“Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Service”

Released 7/27/20
Revised 6/7/21
Revised 8/9/21
Revised 9/7/21
Revised 12/28/21
Reviewed 5/3/2022
Revised 5/27/2022
Revised 8/1/2022
Reviewed 12/14/22 

CFISD health and safety protocols are subject to change as updated guidance is provided by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), governing authorities, and county and state officials. 

PREVENTION

Self-Monitoring

• Students, staff and visitors must screen daily (prior to entering a school bus or school) for symptoms of COVID-19. If symptoms are experienced, individuals must not report to school or work until evaluated by a licensed healthcare provider.
  
  
• Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
  
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Loss of taste/smell
  • Nasal congestion
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Fever at or above 100°F
  • Vomiting/diarrhea

Quarantine and Isolation

• Students who show symptoms of COVID-19 at school will be evaluated by the nurse and will be excluded in accordance with CFISD communicable disease exclusion criteria.
• Students or staff members who have been in close contact (within 3-6 feet of someone for 15 minutes or more) with someone who has COVID-19 should consider quarantining unless fully vaccinated or recovered from a COVID-19 illness within the last 90 days.  See “Recommended Close Contact Quarantine Protocol”.
• Students or staff members who test positive for COVID-19 must meet established criteria as stated in the “Isolation and Readmission Criteria Protocol” before returning to school or work.

Vaccines

According to the CDC, vaccination is currently the leading public health strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

• CFISD will continue to offer vaccine opportunities and encourage staff and age-eligible students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. See a list of area vaccine providers and educational resources.

Masks

• Individuals should consult the CDC’s COVID-19 county tracker to monitor local levels of COVID-19 cases to make informed decisions about individual prevention measures, including the optional use of a face mask.
  
  
  

MITIGATION

Testing

• See a list of area testing sites that offer free or low cost COVID-19 tests.
• To help mitigate the risk of asymptomatic individuals being on campuses, CFISD may provide and/or conduct recurring COVID-19 testing using rapid tests provided by the state or other sources.

General

• To promote good hand hygiene, all campuses have soap dispensers in all restrooms and hand sanitizer dispensers in all classrooms, building and cafeteria entrances, and buses.
• Students, staff and parents will frequently be reminded of good hygiene practices, including frequent and thorough handwashing, using hand sanitizer, and covering coughs and sneezes. See “Hand Hygiene Protocol”.

Disinfection

• High touch surfaces, buses, classrooms, restrooms, gyms, locker rooms, and other areas will be disinfected with a hospital-grade/EPA-registered disinfectant nightly and throughout the day as needed.
• The cafeteria will be disinfected with a hospital-grade/EPA-registered disinfectant after each lunch period. Students will throw their trash away.

Ventilation

• To reduce contaminants in the air in all district facilities, CFISD has increased the introduction of outside air, improved air filtration, increased airflow, and ensured ventilation systems are cleaned and operating properly.  
• The scheduled start time was moved to 3 hours before school begins to bring more treated outdoor air into all facilities.
• The HVAC department regularly inspects all outdoor air dampers to make sure they are open and cleaned and sanitizes all air handler coil surfaces and drain pans on a regular schedule.  
• The temperature set point at all facilities has been lowered and MERV 13 filters have been installed in units capable of accommodating increased filtration as recommended by the CDC.
• District facilities have between six and eight air changes every hour ensuring clean air in district facilities.

RESPONSE

If an individual who has been in a school is confirmed to have COVID-19:

• The following notification procedures will be followed:
  
  • County: Harris County Public Health will be notified when a student/staff is confirmed with COVID-19.
  • Community members may visit the Harris County Public Health dashboard for local COVID-19 case count data.

CFISD uses SchoolMessenger for student and staff emergency notifications. If you are not currently receiving emails or text messages (text Y to 67587) from CFISD, please contact your campus registrar to confirm your contact information.