Broken Arrow Public Schools Logo

COLOR-CODED RISK PHASES - SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Following the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s recommendations, Broken Arrow Public Schools will utilize the following “color-coded risk phases” based on information received from the Oklahoma State Department of Health each week. These color-coded risk phases can be found via the Oklahoma State Department of Health website. Phases are determined by the number of COVID-19 cases within our school boundaries as determined by local and state health departments. COVID-19 cases will be reviewed each Monday by the district’s leadership team, and color phases will be communicated to sites on a weekly basis each Monday afternoon.

At this time, Broken Arrow Public Schools will follow “Yellow Phase” guidelines unless otherwise determined by local, state or district officials.

Risk Levels - Based on daily new cases per 100,000 over 7-day rolling average: 

• Green - Less than 1.43 daily new cases per 100,000 population
• Yellow - 1.43 to 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 population
• Orange - More than 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 population
• Red - More than 14.39 daily new cases per 100,000 plus one of: 
  • <5% statewide ICU bed availability
  • <5% statewide med-surg bed availability
  • <5% statewide ventilatory availability 
  • < 5 days statewide personal protective equipment availability

https://coronavirus.health.ok.gov/covid-19-alert-system

• Red phase - will be practiced until the risk of spreading/contracting COVID19 is reduced significantly over an extended period of time
• Orange phase - will be practiced until the risk of spreading/contracting COVID19 is reduced significantly over an extended period of time
• Yellow phase - will be practiced until the risk of spreading/contracting COVID19 has remained stagnant or declined
• Green phase - will be practiced indefinitely, or until a time when the risk of spreading/contracting COVID9 has increased and imposes a threat to the school/community

Red Phase

• Districtwide distance learning for a minimum of 14 calendar days.

Orange Phase

• Social (Physical/Spatial) distancing practiced as much as possible
• Students upon arrival will be sent to their classrooms or a designated place with social distancing provided
• Students will remain in classrooms or be gathered in designated classrooms in conjunction with bus routes or parent pickup 
• No large group daily activities (assemblies) or field trips
• Only approved visitors, i.e. IEP meetings
• Classroom parties need to follow classroom social distancing guidelines, assigned seats/groups, mandatory masks for grades 3-5, limited to one parent volunteer and no additional guests
• No students will be walked to class or be able to have visitors at lunch
• Large group evening activities should not exceed the capacity where social distancing cannot be practiced
• Screen all guests for temperature and COVID19 symptoms if they need to meet with a teacher or administrator in person. (SafeSchoolID will perform COVID screen questions and alert administrator of any yes responses- guest not allowed past the office, and provide other means for communication)
• Cafeteria practices social distancing in lines, seating will be distanced as much as possible and assigned seats will be required.  Good hygiene practices will be expected to include washing hands or sanitizing immediately prior to eating
• High school will remain open campus for lunch
• Schools should provide virtual opportunities for parent and community involvement ie. Parent Night
• Playground handwashing
• Students exhibiting signs will be sent to a symptom monitoring room and isolated until parents can pick up the child.  This designated area will be determined by the site principal.
• Avoid large groups of students moving to various classrooms
• B&A Connections’ parents check students in/out at a designated door (this will require additional staff members to stay within ratio).
• B&A Connections will practice same hand washing/sanitizing protocols for snack and outdoor recreation as listed above.
• B&A Connections will space centers out in the cafeteria and gymnasium for social distancing.

Orange Phase - Overall safety guidelines:

• Masks are required for students in grades 3 through 12 and required for staff and visitors; masks are recommended for students in grades Pre-K through 2. Students are to provide and be responsible for their own masks.
• Teachers will be provided masks and face shields, should they choose to wear both. Face shields cannot be used in lieu of a mask.
• Teachers may wear spirit wear and jeans daily for ease of changing and cleaning of clothes.
• Social distancing encouraged and practiced as much as possible.
• If there is a confirmed positive case of COVID-19, the classroom will be closed for 48 hours of cleaning, any students within six feet that came into direct contact will quarantine and receive distance learning. Students who did not come into direct contact will attend class in an alternate location on site.
• Site principals and counselors will complete the contact tracing course.
• Students and staff should conduct the at-home wellness check daily before attending school.

School Opening and Dismissing Guidelines:

• Schools should avoid large groups of students congregating.
• Offer students the opportunity to go directly to classrooms, rather than waiting in common areas at the start of the school day.
• Offer students the opportunity to wait in the classroom at dismissal and dismiss in phases to avoid large groups of students.

Classroom Guidelines:

• Assigned seats required for each classroom
• Students’ desks are separated as much as possible
• Students stay in their seats for questions, rather than approaching the teacher’s desk- teacher goes to the student to maintain appropriate distance
• Students have access to hand sanitizer and wipes
• Common drinking fountains may be closed. Students are permitted to have a water bottle in class.
• Computer Labs wipe down devices after each hour or use.
• Classroom door handles wiped before each hour, prop open the doors for students entering and exiting to avoid hands on door handles
• Classroom items will be disinfected after use.
• Teachers of younger will ensure students will wash or sanitize hands often and older students will be asked to do the same
• B&A Connections will follow classroom guidelines as much as possible.

Building guidelines:

• Social distancing is practiced as much as possible in the hallway, office, common areas
• Buildings have clear traffic patterns to eliminate cross traffic or congestion in hallways and corridors
• Cafeteria tables are distanced as much as possible and students will have assigned seats
• High school will remain an open campus during lunch
• Cafeteria - Social distancing practiced
• Enforce use of Student IDs for 9-12 to minimize student typing in student ID.
• Avoid large groups of students as much as possible
• Until further notice, elementary sites may use gymnasium with activities practicing social distancing, good hygiene for interactive games.
• Media centers will be open for students to come in small groups and individual check outs.
• Media, Art and Music classes will be sanitized between each rotation
• If there is a confirmed positive case of COVID, the classroom will be closed for 48 hours of cleaning, any students within six feet that came into direct contact will quarantine and receive distance learning. Students that did not come into direct contact will attend class in an alternate location on site.

 Yellow Phase

• Social distancing practiced as much as possible.
• Large group activities-school-wide assemblies may be allowed with students and teacher only, large group activities must be limited so social distancing may be practiced
• Classroom parties need to follow classroom social distancing guidelines, assigned seats/groups, mandatory masks for grades 3-5, limited to one parent volunteer and no additional guests. Any food items must be packaged.
• Cafeteria practices social distancing in lines, seating will be distanced as much as possible and assigned seats will be required.  Good hygiene practices will be expected to include washing hands or sanitizing immediately prior to eating.
• High school will remain open campus for lunch.
• Visitors are not permitted at lunch.
• Playground handwashing before and after.
• Schools should provide virtual opportunities for parent and community involvement.
• Students exhibiting signs will be sent to a symptom monitoring room until parents can pick up the child.
• B&A Connections would continue much like Phase 1 with arrival and dismissal procedures.

Green Phase

• Schoolwide assemblies allowed
• Visitors are allowed during lunch
• Masks are optional and not required
• Large group evening events allowed
• Temperature screening may be an option, but not required
• Regular cafeteria practices, to include all the good hygiene practices and handwashing
• B&A Connections would allow parents to use their keypad codes to enter the building for arrival and dismissal procedures.