2022 COVID-19 Plan

No school exists in a vacuum. We are subject to the decisions by the government (Governor, Departments of Education and Public Health), by our accrediting agency (ISACS), and by our parental organization (Maharishi International University). And the input of our constituent groups: parents, guardians, students, faculty, staff, Board of Directors. (link to chart)

Our pledge is to stay transparent, work together with all constituents, and move forward to keep our students and faculty/staff healthy and safe while providing a strong learning experience for our students.

• COVID-19 Website page 

Parents, guardians, and interested parties are encouraged to access this page for updated information and school policies. If you have questions or comments related to COVID-19 policies, please contact your Division Director.

• School closing information

In the event of school closing due to confirmed COVID-19 cases, parents and guardians will be 

notified via email, the school website, and the RAVE emergency alert system. 

• COVID-19 Information

For local information about COVID-19, contact the Jefferson County Health Center’s COVID Clinic at 641-469-4180.

• Mental health hotline

If you need mental health, substance abuse, or emotional help for yourself or someone you know, confidential and immediate support is available 24/7/365 at 1-844-493-8255 or Text TALK to 38255. 

The national distress hotline is 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.

Multi-layered preventative measures will be employed to mitigate the spread of the virus. Teachers will discuss these protocols regularly with students. In addition to staying home when sick, the following guidelines will be implemented. 

FACE COVERINGS

Face coverings will be optional but are strongly encouraged for everyone entering Maharishi School facilities. Face coverings serve as simple barriers to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the cloth face covering coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice. 

The following protocols will ensure a safe learning environment. 

• Students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to bring and wear their own well-fitted face coverings. The school can provide disposable masks, if necessary.
• It is encouraged to wear a mask anytime you enter a building or walk through the hallways to other rooms or offices.
• Some locations and situations will be designated as mask-free space (such as a teacher alone in a classroom or an administrator in an office).
• We encourage mask wearing outdoors IF social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
• Disposable masks should be placed in trash cans with plastic liners.
• The school can provide a face shield for those who request one, if there is a valid reason that a disposable or cloth mask cannot be worn. These can be requested through the Central Office for students or Human Resources for faculty and staff.

Care and use of face coverings

• Wash hands before putting on your face covering 
• Ensure the face covering fits properly over the nose and mouth, and under the chin 
• Try to fit the mask snugly along sides of your face
• Avoid touching the front of the face covering, and if you do, wash your hands 
• Make sure you can breathe easily
• Wash hands or use hand sanitizer immediately after removing face covering
• Keep reusable face coverings in a paper bag or breathable container when not in use

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Keeping space between people is one of the best tools to avoid exposure to COVID-19 and slow its spread because people may be able to spread the virus before knowing they are sick. Social distancing is important for everyone, especially to protect those at high risk for health complications.

We will do our best to maintain, throughout the classrooms, offices and at events, the 3-foot social distancing protocols recommended in CDC guidelines for schools.

HAND WASHING/HAND SANITIZER

Washing your hands is easy, and it’s one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the virus. Clean hands can stop the virus from spreading from one person to another and throughout an entire community—from home, to workplace, and to school.

Follow Five Steps to Wash Your Hands the Right Way

1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. Power dryers will be disconnected.

Use Hand Sanitizer When You Can’t Use Soap and Water

Washing hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of the virus in most situations. If soap and water are not readily available, entrances, classrooms, and offices will be equipped with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

DAILY HEALTH SCREENINGS

Any type of health screening is not a substitute for best practice of staying home when ill, regular handwashing, wearing a face covering, and social distancing. To ensure safety of all students, faculty, and staff, temperature checks will be conducted upon morning entry and again if returning from an off-campus trip.

As stated in our Parent/Student Handbook:

In case of illness, please keep your child home from school if: 

• They have a fever, or have had one during the previous 24-hour period.
• They started taking an antibiotic during the past 24-hour period.
• They have a cold that is less than 4-days old.
• They have a persistent cough. 
• They have symptoms of a communicable disease (e.g. a cold, sniffles, reddened eyes, sore throat, headache, abdominal pain, or fever).
• There is a thick nasal discharge or cough.

Children may come to school if:

• The cold is more than four days old and is over and the child is left with a clear nasal drip.
• There is a chronic thick nasal discharge or cough, and a doctor’s note indicates the child is not contagious.

The protocol for Maharishi School’s Children’s House was created with reference to DHS requirements and CDC recommendations, and with approval from IDPH.

With the following changes in place, Maharishi School Children’s House is planning to open Monday August 23rd.

This is a flexible plan; all the following procedures and policies are subject to change based on updated recommendations.

Masks

Teachers and students 3 years of age and older will be encouraged to wear masks indoors. Areas will be set up for “mask breaks” when needed.

Social Distancing

Adult entry to the playground and the facility will be limited.

Arrival

Students will be greeted at the East gate in good weather, and at the front door of the building in inclement weather. Parents will sign their children in (at arrival) and out (at dismissal). Students will receive a temperature check and parents will be asked about child and family health. Children with temperatures of 100 degrees or higher will be sent home.

Handwashing

Children will wash hands upon arrival, before and after eating, when entering from outside, when seen with hands in mouth /nose, and a minimum of every 2 hours. Washing is completed with soap and water for 20 seconds.

Food Service

Children will not be allowed to leave campus for lunch. Hot lunch will not be available to preschool students this year. Half day students should pack a snack and bring a water bottle. Full day students should pack 2 snacks, a nutritious lunch and bring a water bottle.

Classroom Environment

Class sizes will be reduced to allow for social distancing.

Cleaning & Disinfection Protocol

• Custodial staff will clean common areas and workspaces and disinfect contact points based on CDC guidelines and OSHA standards. 
• Restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected twice daily. 
• High touch and public areas are disinfected multiple times per day. This includes lobbies, doorknobs, handrails, and more.
• Disinfecting supplies have been placed in classrooms and cleaning is required before and after individual use of computers and desks. 
• Those working in offices are expected to wipe down commonly used surfaces before and after use with disinfecting products provided by or approved by physical plant staff. This includes any shared-space locations or equipment (copiers, printers, computers, A/V or other electrical equipment, kitchen appliances, desks, tables, light switches, doorknobs, etc.).

Use of Facilities

• Maharishi School facilities will be primarily limited to students, faculty and staff. 
• Parents and visitors may be permitted entry by prior arrangement with school faculty or administrators. 
• Deliveries will be limited to the entry ways.
• The facilities will not be available for large group events until further notice.

Classrooms

Student seating will be socially distanced, facing the same direction. 

Hallways and Stairwells

Hallway and stairwell traffic will be controlled to reduce and direct traffic flow. 

Bathrooms

We will limit the capacity of bathroom use, disconnect hand dryers and use only paper towels, and arrange hands-free door opening. Some faucets may also be disabled to reduce congestion.

Water bottle filling stations will be available for personal containers and will be frequently disinfected.

Ventilation 

The HVAC system should deliver adequate circulation of air during AC and heating seasons. If the AC or heat is not in use, all windows should be open to maximize ventilation. 

Transportation

For any transport of our students, social distancing, face coverings, and other hygienic policies will be in effect. We recognize that this limits the potential for off-campus field trips and other experiences. 

Boarding Students

1. Boarding students are encouraged to communicate their pre-departure COVID-19 test (done at home prior to the students’ departure) with the school. 
2. Upon arrival to campus, students will be in short term “isolation” on campus with adult supervision and required to mask when outside their single occupancy room.  Maharishi School will pay for all additional supervision expenses provided during short term isolation.
3. After three to five days, the student will be COVID-19 tested at a local clinic. Once we receive negative test results from their COVID-19 test, we will admit the student to in-person classes and strongly encourage masking as per Dorm Rules below.  Until negative COVID test results are received, the student may participate online for learning.
4. In the event of a positive test result, the Residential Life Director will immediately inform parents and begin our care and recovery program based on guidelines from local Public Health officials. We will admit the student to classes in-person after medical confirmation of full recovery.    

Dorm Rules

While COVID-19 remains a pandemic, students and Residential Life staff are strongly encouraged to wear a mask when entering any building (school, stores, restaurants, etc.):

• Wear a mask when entering any building (school, stores, restaurants, etc).
• Maintain social distance from other people–both inside buildings and outside.
• Not enter any vehicle except those driven by Residential Life staff unless permission has been granted.

Upon return to the dorm from any outside activity, students and Residential Life staff are required to immediately sanitize their hands using the “Clean Station” inside the dorm entrance. We also encourage and remind students and Residential Life staff  to frequently wash their hands and avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with their hands.

We do not require dorm residents to wear masks inside the dorm (post isolation period and COVID negative confirmation) or to maintain social distance in this home environment, although individual students may follow these behaviors inside the dorm if desired. Students should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, or eating utensils.

Additionally, the dorm has established protocols for receiving food deliveries while maintaining distance. For example, there is a “money box” and table outside the dorm entrance where students may complete a transaction with delivery workers without close contact. Also, Residential Life staff receive all food catering deliveries outside and bring the food into the dorm themselves.

We allow visitors such as parents, teachers, and cleaning staff based on necessity and approval from Residential Life staff and request adherence to the same safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residential Life staff will monitor student health and temperature checks. In the event that a student or Residential Life staff member develops COVID-19 symptoms, we will immediately begin our response protocols which include contact local Public Health, transport of the student or Residential Life staff to quarantine housing, prompt testing at the local clinic, and recovery care provided by additional staff from outside the dorm. Also, each dorm student and Residential Life staff member will undergo a COVID-19 test and be quarantined in the dorm until we can confirm no spread.

Maharishi School will provide self-isolation and quarantine spaces. They will have bathroom facilities and be stocked with a thermometer, sanitizing wipes, tissues, soap, hand sanitizer and toiletries for those who have received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The school will notify all parents of a positive case of COVID-19 in the dorm or at the School.

• Students at all levels will have two lunch options: brining lunch from home or having the hot lunch from the cafeteria.
• To minimize risk, we are asking that all students stay on campus for lunch. Parents will not be allowed to pick up students for lunch.
• Neither refrigerators nor microwave ovens will be available so we ask that you plan your sack lunches accordingly: in thermoses for hot food, or with frozen gel packs for cold food.

We are currently monitoring the COVID-19 situation to determine whether large group events will be possible this school year.

If the public health situation allows for the school to return to hosting vital on-campus events, adjustments such as social distancing and other safety protocols will need to be made to optimize safety. However, we currently do not expect to host large events on campus for the fall and will require social distancing and other safety protocols for any that do occur. Traditional large gatherings may need to take place virtually.

• Maharishi School will enforce visitor and guest policies to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff.
• Maharishi School will make seating changes in larger venues and lobby spaces to accommodate social distance. Maharishi School will use the Zoom platform for online meetings and gatherings. In-person meetings are subject to the public health guidelines and will require face masks or coverings.

Physical Education 

PE classes will maintain social distancing, using outdoor space as much as possible. If indoors, face coverings will be encouraged.

Sports

Maharishi School will participate in interscholastic sports (sharing program with Fairfield High School, e.g., soccer)  only when health and safety assurances are met to the satisfaction of the school administration. 

Destination Imagination, Rocketry, and Robotics 

Information about these competitions is being provided by their respective national/international organizations. At the present time, all are expected to continue but possibly in modified form. 

Social activities 

Maharishi School will seek creative ways to plan and implement social activities for our students that meet the health guidelines in effect at that time. 

Recommendation for Families

Families are encouraged to take their children’s temperature in the morning and assess the symptoms. If the temperature is higher than 100° F please alert the school and your doctor and keep your child at home. Other symptoms to look for which merit keeping your children home are:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

Parents should inform the School if anyone in their home has been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. Please have your child stay home as well while we ask the local Public Health office for specific guidelines of when your child can return to school.

Maharishi School will inform the local Public Health office if we become aware that a school community member has a confirmed case of COVID-19. Their office will provide guidance for an appropriate response.

As for situations where there is concern that a community member may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, Maharishi School may ask the family to consult with their doctor in order to understand the risk of exposure.  

Public Health officials may direct Maharishi School to provide notice to the school community about potential exposure.  Maharishi School will maintain confidentiality when doing so.  

Contact Tracing

If there is a confirmed case in Maharishi School, we will conduct contact tracing to determine whether any individuals are considered at risk and in need of isolation. We will consult with the Jefferson County Public Health office for current recommendations and protocols.

School Closures

In the unlikely event of a major outbreak in the school or community, it is possible that Maharishi School will consider closing. We will consult with the Jefferson County Public Health office for current recommendations and protocols.

Maharishi School will inform the school community using the School’s website and social media pages to provide the most up-to-date information to parents regarding school closures.

• Visitors must make appointments in advance with a specific person or department.

• When visitors enter, they must follow the school protocols: screening their temperature and sanitizing hands at the entrance, encouraging them to wear a face covering, and maintaining social distancing when meeting their designated party at the entrance and throughout their visit. They should refrain from coming into contact with anyone else, especially students or teachers.

• Visitors will generally remain in the area of the central office and / or parlor on the first floor.

• Prospective students and their families can be given a tour only by prior arrangement with school administration, when students and staff are not present.

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