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Introduction
Royer-Greaves School for Blind has adopted this temporary administrative policy to immediately address any behaviors that violate community standards for protecting everyone’s health.
Violations of this policy, and/or any other COVID-19-related policy, may result in immediate disciplinary action, including the removal of the employee from RGS’ properties.
The provisions of this policy may change depending on health conditions and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s mandates. Conduct Expectations for Staff
Staff are required to comply with all applicable Covid-19-related policies, including this policy. All staff are required to take the necessary measures to keep themselves and the community safe including, but not limited to, the following:
- Complete all required safety trainings.
- Comply with all testing, quarantine, isolation and contact tracing protocols as directed by RGS, as well as those required by local, state or federal officials.
- Staff shall not come to any RGS properties if they have any COVID-19 symptoms as defined by the CDC, if they have been in close contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19, or if they have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 14 days. The CDC defines “close contact” as “anyone who with within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 48 hours before the person began feeling sick until the time the patient was isolated.” Employees should contact their immediate supervisor. If they are at work when symptoms begin, they should contact their immediate supervisor and leave immediately and contact their healthcare provider.
- Wear surgical masks covering their faces.
- Comply with all maximum occupancy requirements, signage, and floor markings posted in all campus spaces.
- Maintain physical distance (6 feet) from others, to the greatest extent possible.
- Frequently and thoroughly maintain hygiene by regular hand washing with soap and warm water or use of hand sanitizer throughout the day, and before and after entering classrooms or other common areas.
- Responsibly dispose of any sanitizing or disinfecting wipes and related materials.
- Abide by all policies related to visitors/guests on RGS properties.
Disciplinary Process
Reporting
Employees who have concerns related to an individual’s failure to comply with this policy, or any other COVID-19-related policy, should report the matter to their supervisor.
Reported concerns involving employees will be addressed by their supervisor in consultation with Human Resources. If it is determined that the expectations have been violated, it will be decided what disciplinary action will be taken.
Disciplinary Action
This administrative disciplinary policy utilizes a tiered response as a guide: the first violation of a bias health precaution such as wearing a face covering, physical distance, etc. will ordinarily result in a verbal warning; the second in a written warning; the third in unpaid suspension. Serious violations may result in immediate termination.
The above is intended to be a guide only. Disciplinary decisions are at the discretion of the Executive Director, and disciplinary measure will depend on the particular circumstance of the case.
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Effective Date: November 2, 2020
Dear Family Members,
I hope that you and your family are doing well as we continue to face the challenges of the impact of COVID-19 and now the mutations of the virus (Delta variant). We are especially appreciative of the cooperation and understanding our families have shown us during this unprecedented time. We want to inform you of our updated visitation policy.
We take the health and safety of our individuals and staff members very seriously. We have
continued to clean and sanitize our homes, take daily temperatures of staff and individuals and have our mask mandate enforced.
Due to the fact that the Delta variant can be contracted and spread regardless of vaccination or not, we have great concern for travel and visits of our individuals outside their homes. Given the constant changing environment this pandemic presents, and the changing guidance we receive from our health officials at CDC and local health departments and the fact that the infection rate is increasing steadily, Royer-Greaves will be considering visitation requests from our families on a case by case basis. Please email your visitation requests to either Debra Jerome-Campbell or me and we will respond to them. Each request will be reviewed individually and you will be informed if the request is approved or not. Until further notice, we are requesting that all home visits that are approved will be limited to family members living in the household.
As we adapt and evolve in the midst of this pandemic, we, as responsible citizens, continue to make difficult sacrifices for the safety and health of others, our families and our community.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Vicky A. Mayer Executive Director
Date:11/11/2020
Dear Family Members:
I hope that you and your family are doing well as we continue to face the challenges and the current impact of COVID-19.
Because of the current situation with rising numbers of positive cases, we need to update the policy concerning visitation that had previously been issued.
Initially, Governor Wolf issued three phases for reopening the state: red, yellow and green.
Recently, the state has modified the reporting categories to low, moderate and substantial. This new way to identify the spread uses the (PCR) Percent Positivity Rate to characterize the Level of Community Transmission. The PCR Percent Positivity for each county is extracted from the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s COVID-19 Early Warning Monitoring System Dashboard. The dashboard is updated weekly.
Listed below are the new definitions.
The identification of the states with high numbers is also updated on a routine basis.
individuals and staff as well as their families. This includes, but is not limited to, deciding whether to change the method of service delivery (remote versus in-person, in-home versus in congregate settings, 1 staff supporting 1 individual versus groups of individuals) and implementing or increasing other COVID-19 mitigation strategies in alignment with applicable ODP COVID-19 guidance.
ODP has directed Providers, individuals and families to use the Level of Community Transmission information for their county as well as surrounding counties to make informed choices about protecting the health and safety of individuals and staff as well as their families. This includes, but is not limited to, deciding whether to change the method of service delivery (remote versus in-person, in-home versus in congregate settings, 1 staff supporting 1 individual versus groups of individuals) and implementing or increasing other COVID-19 mitigation strategies in alignment with applicable ODP COVID-19 guidance.
Therefore, effective today, Royer-Greaves Services is only allowing Zoom visits for the individuals living in our services. (CLA and Lifesharing)
If the numbers reduce from now to December, we will re-evaluate our visitation policy for the Christmas Holiday.
We take the health and safety of our individuals, staff members, and Lifesharing members very seriously. Our goal is to keep everyone as safe as possible, and to mitigate risk.
Our country is in the midst of a pandemic that continues to evolve and as responsible citizens, we must continue to adapt to the changing times.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Vicky A. Mayer
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SEPTEMBER, 2020
Dear Royer-Greaves Community,
In preparation for our reopening, Royer-Greaves School for Blind has developed a detailed Phased Reopening Plan, with guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Department of Health and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Royer-Greaves’ plan details the protective steps we will take to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. We will reopen our education program, as scheduled, on August 31, 2020, offering each parent the option for their child to attend school in person or virtually. It represents many weeks of hard work by our pandemic response team and is informed by current best practices and our county’s current COVID-19 status and guides our educational program decisions as we move forward.
Parents, this is the plan we have discussed with each of you individually. It was built with your input to meet your family’s needs to the best of our ability in this challenging time. We know that each of you has considered your child and family’s needs to help you decide if your child will participate in school in person or virtually. Many of the students who attend Royer-Greaves School for Blind require specialized programming and services that can be difficult to replicate through remote learning and our plans seek to support each student’s learning as much as possible regardless of the method chosen for the start of the year.
The team has worked to develop plans that place the safety of students, staff, and the community above all else while fulfilling our responsibility to address both the academic and social/emotional growth of our students. Key areas include our plans for a.) cleaning, sanitizing, and ventilation, b.) social distancing c.) monitoring student and staff health d.) transportation In addition to the modifications of classrooms and additions to the ventilation systems, we have also contracted with the Chester County Intermediate Unit to provide breakfast and lunches.
Our Chester County Health Department has guided us to encourage face coverings for students served by special education that can do so. As outlined in our plan, each student’s ability to wear/tolerate a mask and wash their hands will be acknowledged. For those students who are unable to wear a mask or wash their hands, the team will work to develop the skill, and also implement strategies to assure your son or daughter’s safety and health. Royer-Greaves will also enforce mandatory face coverings for all adults working with students served by special education, particularly when working one-on-one with students. We seek to provide an educational program that addresses each student’s needs, and also provide flexibility to allow us to adapt to any changes that may be needed.
Please know that we will quickly adapt to any changes in local COVID-19 status and/or evolving mitigation best practices, and we will communicate any updates. Ongoing communication and discussion will help us all learn of new unique challenges and concerns and by working together, we will further modify to maximize the safety and well-being of the students, staff, and community. Everyone in the school – your teachers, therapists, Dr. Carolyn Muller, and myself are here to answer your questions and address your concerns.
We will be vigilant to ensure our community remains healthy.
Thank you for your patience, support, and endurance. We are all in this together.
Sincerely,
Vicky Mayer
Executive Director