Lexington County School District One

Lexington County School District One continues to have two goals: 1) to maximize instruction and 2) keep our students and staff as safe as possible. To accomplish this, we leverage a number of strategies to support and prioritize children and adults’ safety and wellbeing.

Description of maintaining health and safety

Lexingont One is providing in-person instruction five days per week on school campuses for PK-12 students, while continuing to monitor any COVID-19 health guidelines recommended by the SC Department of Education (SCDE), the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Centers for Control and Disease Prevention (CDC). Preventative strategies include but are not limited to:

• Ensure classrooms, restrooms, cafeterias, hallways, offices and other spaces are cleaned each school day. 

• Monitor the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and review recommended guidance from local, state and national sources.

• Encourage students and employees to stay home when sick

• Use signage to reinforce healthy habits, such as frequent hand-washing.

• Continue use of technology conferencing as an option for parent/family meetings.

• Continue use of technology conferencing as an option for district and school staff meetings.

• Utilize ESSER to support services provided by school health rooms.

As we did throughout the pandemic, Lexington County School District One will continue to work with state public health officials to guide our continued implementation of in-person learning. As public health guidance evolves, we will consider all available guidance as we continue to adjust mitigation strategies in our schools.

Universal and correct wearing of masks

Masks will be optional for students and staff unless directed by the SCDE, the Governor’s Office or other authorized state agencies to make masking required.

Hand washing and respiratory etiquette

One of our most successful mitigation strategies continues to be our emphasis on handwashing and respiratory etiquette. Respiratory etiquette includes coughing into your elbow, properly using tissue and throwing them away after use, covering sneezes and coughs, washing hands and using hand sanitizer often, etc.

As needed, we will share information with the public about proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette through social media posts and other communications to students, parents, guardians and community members.

Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation

Protocols are in place to ensure classrooms, restrooms, cafeterias, hallways, offices and other spaces are cleaned each school day.

Contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine

Contact tracing will not be used unless directed by the South Carolina Department of Education, the Governor’s Office or other authorized state agencies.

Diagnostic and screening testing

Students presenting symptoms of COVID-19 infection will be evaluated by a school nurse following the most current DHEC guidance for when students must stay out of school due to illness.

Efforts to provide vaccinations to educators, other staff, and students, if eligible

Vaccination resources are readily available in the community and the district will provide information to anyone who seeks assistance with obtaining a vaccination.

Appropriate accommodations for children with disabilities with respect to health and safety policies and practices

We will continue to follow all accommodations specified in students’ individual education plans (IEP), 504 plans, or individual health plans, and communicate to families as needed.

The district will also provide homebound services, to approved students, to support student academic, social, and emotional growth. Staff will work with families of homebound students to schedule these services.

We will continue to schedule online or face-to-face meetings to support the development and implementation of students’ education or health plans. 

Lastly, IEPs will still include contingency plans to support students if e-learning or distance learning is required.

Coordination with state and local health officials

The Lexington County School District One Nursing and Health Services Director will be the official contact with DHEC and other state and local health officials for Lexington District One.

In addition, the district will work with the Department of Social Services, Guardians Ad Litem (court-appointed guardians), and other agencies through updated agreements. These groups include Lexington County Community Mental Health, Pathways to Healing, Dickerson Center and LifeChanges.

We recognize that it is vital to ensure ongoing services for students, staff and the community without interruption. With that said, our district’s focus and commitment continue to be providing safe, healthy, and supportive environments where children, staff, and communities can continue to thrive, learn, and grow.

District response to continuity of services

Behavioral and Mental Health

Lexington One is committed to continuing the emphasis on supporting the behavioral and mental well-being of students and staff members, which is outlined in our district work plan. 

School mental wellness teams meet at least monthly and have an established process for addressing student needs. As needed, employees share information about our behavioral and mental well-being with staff, students and families. We continue to expand mental health partnerships for students, families and staff to include community agencies. We provide seminars and individual resources that empower parents/guardians to implement evidence-based interventions with their children at home.

Instruction

Lexingont One is providing in-person instruction five days per week on school campuses for PK-12 students. Districts that meet the criteria for an eLearning district as determined by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) may use up to five eLearning days to allow for the make-up of short-term disruptions to in-person teaching and learning interruptions (e.g., power outages, water main breaks). An eLearning day is used on the specific day that schools would otherwise have had to close due to an unforeseen emergency or when a make-up day would normally be used. eLearning days are designed to offer more flexibility to avoid loss of instruction due to school closings or to manage necessary make-up days that are already included in the school calendar.

When switching to e-learning the district strives to maintain consistent and engaging learning for our students, even when it's not safe for them to physically be in our schools, by implementing the district’s e-Learning Day protocol.

A focus on continuity of service needs for students will continue, emphasizing students’ access to internet hot spots, technological devices, and digital learning tools.  

Educators will continue to use learning management systems and virtual meeting platforms as needed. The district will also continue to prioritize systems and structures for the implementation of a Multi-tiered System of Supports for students when intervention is needed.

In order to ensure a continuity of services and support to our students, staff, and community, we recognize we must engage in periodic review of our plans to ensure the safety of our stakeholders.

District response to ensuring periodic updates to its plan

We will continue to monitor and update the plan in accordance with updated public health guidance and input from the South Carolina Department of Education.

District response on public input in the development of its plan

During the pandemic, Lexington One’s Return to In-person Plan Task Force engaged with a variety of stakeholders to seek input in the development of this plan, including school administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, students, central services personnel and the district’s board of trustees.

In addition, the district created a webpage that hosts the plan online. 

In addition, the district gathered feedback through structured protocols with advisory groups made up of administrators, teachers, parents/legal guardians, support staff and others. The district gathered feedback from our students’ parents/legal guardians, employees and community through surveys.