This plan was developed with the overarching goal of providing engaging and rigorous instruction to all RSU 16 students and is updated regularly. 

• RSU 16 believes strongly that the best instructional environment for students to learn is offered in our classrooms.
• We will continue to consider all current and future Maine Department of Education and Maine Center Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirements by updating our Return to School plan.
• Physical distancing of 3 feet is strongly recommended when possible for PreK-12 schools and adult education programs. 
• We will continue our social-emotional, academic and instructional focus for accelerated student learning, with hiring 7.5 additional staff using ESSER 3 funds during the 20-21 school year. Also, given we are unable to predict the future, we want to make sure we continue to be prepared to meet whatever changing conditions may occur.
• Students and staff in RSU 16 who are positive and are able to return to school or work on Day 6 should wear a mask for days 6-10. 
• Students, staff, or persons representing RSU 16 on field trips or co-curricular activities will follow the masking requirements of the venue that is being visited.
• RSU 16 will continue with exposure notification rather than contact tracing.
• RSU 16 will support personal choice for masking.  Masks will still be available upon request.  
• RSU 16 will support everyone’s individual’s choice to mask or not mask.  The choice will be respected and RSU 16 will not tolerate any form of harassment, peer pressure, or persuasion against an individual's masking choice or belief.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics put out a statement that included the following: “We encourage each family to make a plan that works best for them, while also modeling empathy and discouraging bullying of any child who chooses to mask to protect themselves and their family even when not required to do so.” 
• Pooled testing will remain in effect as a way to identify individuals who may be carrying the virus prior to infecting others. We encourage continued participation in this program as one way to minimize exposure to the virus.  You can still register you or your children for pooled testing by calling the school they attend.
• RSU 16 will continue to monitor information such as cases in our schools, vaccination and pooled testing percentages in our schools/district, attendance rates, hospitalization rates provided by the CDC, wastewater sampling provided by the State of Maine and outbreak status as determined by the CDC/DOE for each school. If this data indicates that more restrictive measures should be considered, the Superintendent will provide the School Board appropriate recommendations, based on the local situation, and the School Board will ultimately determine the safest response and policy. 
• Continue to screen for symptoms of COVID-19, stay home if sick or showing symptoms, and inform the school nurse of positive cases of COVID-19 in the home. Use the pre-screening screening tool every morning.
• If there is a positive member in the household, it is encouraged that you wear a mask at school for 10 days.
• Hand sanitizer will be available for use upon entry to every RSU 16 building and readily available throughout the building.
• Sign up for free COVID tests available through the State https://accesscovidtest.org/ or Federal Government https://www.covidtests.gov/
• RSU 16 will continue to provide information related to COVID-19 positive cases on our COVID-19 dashboard at this link https://www.rsu16.org/about/covid-dashboard. 
• Vaccine clinics are posted on the Governor’s COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic website.
• RSU 16 offers a fully remote learning program (ReeL) to only those students in K-6 who were  determined to be medically unable to attend school in person due to the risk of exposure to COVID 19 because a vaccine was not yet available for children age 2-11.  RSU 16’s remote learning program will only last the 2021 - 2022 school year. It will not extend beyond that.

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