All policies below are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, Pennsylvania Department of Education, New Jersey Department of Education, and Camden County Department of Health for the 2022-2023 school year. Mastery will continue to update these policies as public health guidance evolves. For more information, please contact [email protected]

 

This plan addresses the following primary areas:

1. Prevention Strategies
2. Vaccinations
3. Cleaning Protocols
4. Policies for Management of COVID Cases & Symptomatic Individuals
5. Masking
6. At Risk Individuals
7. Considerations for High-Risk Activities
8. Frequently Asked Questions

Testing

• Rapid testing of symptomatic individuals (students and staff).
• There is no testing requirement for unvaccinated staff in PA or NJ.

Masking

• Mastery PA and NJ schools will require indoor masking for the first two weeks of school.
  • For 1st through 12th Grade, this will be from 8/22 to 9/2. 
  • For Kindergarten, this will be from 8/29 to 9/9. 
  • Schools will return to mask optional on Tuesday 9/6 for 1^st through 12^th grade and Monday 9/12 for Kindergarten

  *Wear a high quality mask that fits well and is worn consistently.

Isolation

• All individuals (students and staff) can return on days 6 through 10 of isolation if:
  • symptoms are improving and fever free
  • must wear a high quality mask for days 6-10 of return to school

Close Contacts

• Close contacts are defined as individuals that have been within 6 feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, for 15 minutes or more within a 24-hour period, masked or unmasked.
  • Close contacts can remain in school/work. They will be required to follow Mastery’s ‘Mask to Stay’ policy. All close contacts should wear a high quality mask after an exposure, regardless of vaccination status.
  • Masks must be worn for 10 days.
  • Close contacts with confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days do not need to quarantine but must mask.
  • All close contacts must monitor themselves for fever and cough, shortness of breath and other COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days after their last exposure to someone with COVID-19.  Symptomatic students who test negative must mask until resolution of symptoms, regardless of vaccination status.

Contact Tracing

• Contact tracing is required for positive cases, regardless of mask use.

Ventilation

• All schools have HVAC systems that meet ASHRAE standards or plasma filters in all occupied spaces.

Cleaning/Disinfecting

• Daily cleaning of all classrooms, desks, chairs, and high touch surfaces.

 

Everyone age 6 months and older is now eligible for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine. While Mastery is not requiring anyone to take the vaccine at this time, we do recommend that families consider it. The vaccine is free – just bring a single proof of residency (a utility bill is fine.) We recommend using https://www.vaccines.gov/ to find convenient vaccination locations.

It is everyone’s responsibility to vigilantly maintain a clean and safe environment for each school.

High Touch Spaces

• High touch point spaces (bathrooms, doors, water fountains, front desk counter tops) will be disinfected frequently throughout the school day.

Evening Cleaning

• The cleaning crew shall conduct a thorough cleaning of the entire school building each evening.
• The Building Engineer will utilize a check-off list of each area to review routine cleaning.

Each evening, the cleaning crew shall be directed to check-off each area that was
cleaned thoroughly.

• If a student is presenting COVID-like symptoms or who presents with a temperature, the student should be sent to the school nurse for testing.  The school nurse will determine appropriate next steps.
• If a staff member experiences COVID-like symptoms or learns that isolation is required, they must isolate immediately at home, contact their manager and inform HR. The manager will follow appropriate next steps.

 

QUICK REFERENCE

Positive Test Result

Students

Step 1: Begin Isolation for 5 days

Step 2: Return on days 6 – 10 with improving symptoms

Step 3: Must wear high quality mask on days 6 – 10 upon return

 

Staff

Step 1: Begin Isolation for 5 days

Step 2:   Employee emails their manager and HR to inform   them of the positive case and close contacts

Step 3: The manager informs close contacts, without       disclosing the employee’s identity. Close contacts must mask for 10 days.

Step 4: Return on days 6 – 10 with improving symptoms

Step 5: Must wear high quality mask on days 6 – 10 upon return

 

Isolation Day-Tracker

If you had no symptoms:

• Day 0 is the day you were tested (not the day you received your positive test result)
• Day 1 is the first full day following the day you were tested
• If you develop symptoms within 10 days of when you were tested, the clock restarts at day 0 on the day of symptom onset

 If you had symptoms:

• Day 0 of isolation is the day of symptom onset, regardless of when you tested positive
• Day 1 is the first full day after the day your symptoms started

**Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate yourself from others when you have COVID-19. You should also isolate yourself if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results.

 

Close Contact

‘Mask to Stay’: All close contacts must wear a high quality mask for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status.

• At-home quarantine is no longer required
• All close contacts must monitor themselves for fever and cough, shortness of breath and other COVID-19 symptoms for 10 days after their last exposure to someone with COVID-19.  Symptomatic students who test negative must mask until resolution of symptoms, regardless of vaccination status.

**Regardless of vaccination status, you should isolate yourself from others when you have COVID-19. You should also isolate yourself if you are sick and suspect that you have COVID-19 but do not yet have test results.

Mastery PA and NJ schools will require indoor masking for the first two weeks of school:

•  For 1st through 12th Grade, this will be from 8/22 to 9/2
•  For Kindergarten, this will be from 8/29 to 9/9

•  Schools will return to mask optional on Tuesday 9/6 for 1^st through 12^th grade and Monday 9/12 for Kindergarten

Masks

High quality masks are KN95, N95 and KF94

Mask to Stay Policy: 

Individuals who have been exposed to someone (close contacts) with COVID-19 can stay in school, but must wear a high quality mask:

• All positive individuals must mask for days 6-10 of return to school
• All close contacts of a positive case would mask to stay in school for 10 days after exposure

• Students and staff at risk or who have family members at risk for getting very sick with COVID-19 should consider taking extra precautions (for example, wearing a mask) even when the COVID-19 Community Level is not high.

Mastery adheres to all CDC, Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Camden Departments of Health guidance for our student-athletes. Mastery strongly recommends our student-athletes to be vaccinated.

 

Coach/Student-Athlete – Monitoring Symptoms

Coaches and student-athletes will be required to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 and confirm they are symptom-free and have not had recent exposure. In cases of symptomatic individuals or a known exposure, coaches and athletes should test, prior to participating in practice/games.

 

Coach/Student Athlete – Exposure (Mask to Stay) 

Close contact is defined as being within six feet of a person who tested positive for COVID-19 at least 15 minutes within a 24-hour period, regardless of mask use. A coach/student-athlete who has been in close contact with a positive case of COVID-19 must:

• Wear a high quality mask for 10 days after their last date of exposure
• Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19
• Isolate and test if they start to experience COVID-like symptoms 

 

Coach/Student Athlete – COVID-19 Positive

After a positive COVID 19 test, coach/student-athlete should isolate immediately

• Coach/student-athlete must isolate at least 5 days
• If symptom free, coach/student-athlete will return with strict masking on days 6 to 10.
• Symptom free is defined as 24 hours fever-free without use of fever reducing medication.
• Coaches will follow these guidelines:
• If the coach is a Mastery employee, the coach should notify their manager and email HR to inform them of positive case and close contacts.
• If the coach is a non-Mastery employee, the coach should inform their Athletic Director. The Athletic Director will take the appropriate next steps.

Close contact sports and indoor sports are particularly risky for participants and spectators, especially in crowded, indoor venues. Similar risks may exist for other extracurricular activities, such as band, choir, theater, and other school clubs that meet indoors and entail increased exhalation. At a high COVID-19 Community Level, schools can consider layering prevention strategies, such as masking, when close contact occurs. Guidance may be reviewed at that time.

Q: Do I need a negative rapid test to return early to work/school?

A: No, you just have to wear a high quality mask for days 6-10 of early return.

Q: What is the quarantine period for a household exposure?

A: If you have a household exposure to COVID-19, please follow the same procedure as close contacts. At-home quarantine mandates are no longer in effect. You can remain in school and will be required to wear a high quality mask for 10 days after exposure, regardless of vaccination status.

Q: Will teachers provide Zoom lessons for students while they are out on COVID isolation?

A: There will be no remote instruction. If a student is isolating because they have tested positive for COVID-19, teachers are responsible for getting work to those students either electronically or, if the child doesn’t have access to a computer at home, in a printed version.

Q: What are the physical distancing requirements for staff and students?

A: Currently, there are no requirements for physical distancing. Classroom and cafeteria seating/spacing is up to the school’s discretion.

Q: Should I be concerned about Monkeypox in our schools?

A: Monkeypox is a viral infection that is primarily transmitted through prolonged skin-to-skin contact. Although it’s possible that contact could occur in school settings, it’s still likely to be a relatively rare occurrence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not released specific guidance for handling Monkeypox in K-12 school settings, but the situation is evolving and we will continue to monitor.  If you have individual concerns about Monkeypox, please consult your primary care health provider.

Q: Are athletes required to be vaccinated to play sports?

A: No, there are no vaccination requirements for student-athletes.

Q: Will Mastery offer remote learning?

A: Mastery does not offer remote learning.

Q: I am fully vaccinated, boosted and have tested positive for COVID-19 within the last 90-days. I was informed that I have recently been exposed to someone, who tested positive for COVID-19 and have been identified as a close contact. Do I still need to wear a mask?

A: Yes. Masking is required, regardless of vaccination status. Please monitor yourself for COVID-like symptoms and follow appropriate steps, if necessary.