The Life Development Institute COVID-19 Response Plan July 16, 2020
The following document outlines LDl’s guidelines and practices to safely reopen our campus to students and visitors. It is based on federal and state regulations/guidance/best practices to create a learning and living environment which emphasize the health and safety of students and everyone returning to our program building and apartments.
These guidelines also acknowledge the fluid nature of the pandemic, and its potential to require changes to staffing and service delivery should a significant outbreak change the ability of the program and participants to access ground-based services safely.
This guidance focuses on 3 operational Pillars:
- Protection: Monitoring Local/Regional Health & Risk Factors
- a. Adhering to local/state orders
- b. Monitoring local/regional transmission rates
- c. Conducting personnel & student daily health checks
- d. Prepare to use quick response plans to COVID-19 on campus
- Procedures: Implement Consistent Safety Precautions
- a. Hygiene education and training
- b. Personal and Public Space Sanitation
- c. Provide Plenty of Ventilation in Public/Private Spaces d. Prepare Class, Program, and Offices for Safe Engagement via Social Distancing
- Programming: Offer Multiple Engagement Formats
- a. All academic programming delivered via on line/virtual learning beginning August 10 for the high school program and August 17 for the young adult program, until it is safe to move to 3.b
- b. Blended learning on- campus and online, utilizing safe classroom areas following Pillar 1 & 2 protocols, until it is safe to move to 3.c
- c. Blended learning on-campus and/or online classes utilizing safe classroom areas, the general community in the region and following Pillar 1 & 2 protocols
Pillar #1 |
Monitoring Local/Regional Health & Risk Factors Health & Risk Checks
Health & Risk Checks
- Daily Health Checks
- Assigned personnel for on-campus/ residential student apartments
- Provide On-Going Risk/Health Assessment for personnel
Monitoring Exposure
- Staff consistently follow mitigating practices
- Adhere to Gov. regs/guidelines
- Monitor local transmission rate until 14-day flat curve achieved locally
- Provide on-boarding of procedures to new students
- Make ready quarantine/isolation plans, if necessary, for residential and day students
- Use school closure plan, and pivot to virtual service delivery, if/when necessary
Social Distancing in classrooms, common areas, and residential student apartments
- Single apartment occupancy
- Consistent staffing patterns in classrooms, common areas, and residential student apartments (based on outlined safety practices by professionals)
- Staggered bathroom routines at program building
- No lunch period provided during on-site programming, until conditions allow (medical and government recommendations)
- Students may commingle in approved spaces that allow for 20sq’ per person in designated places in and around the program building
- Maximize safety in vans and by classroom seating arrangements with fewer students for each course/activity (residential only in vans, until further safety measures are ensured for staff, students and families)
- Prohibit sharing of personal items, food, beverages, etc.
- LDI laptops or other loaned equipment assigned to one student only (must not be shared)
Greater Campus Expectations
- Scheduled virtual/outdoor meetings and activities (controlled measures on campus) following medical and government guidelines.
- Limited commingling with residential students in apartments to 2 at one time (until lowered COVID risk is established)
- Program building open during scheduled class times only (currently by appointment)
- Parents and visitors limited to lobby in Program Building, except for scheduled appointments or tours (by appointment only)
- Emergencies please call ahead
Pillar #2 |
Procedures: Implement Consistent Safety Precautions Monitor hygiene practices
Monitor hygiene practices
- Masks are required for all staff, students, and anyone coming to LDI at all times.
- Parents are to provide their child with a mask. LDI does not supply masks.
- Consistent hand washing
- Designated space for safe Kleenex/waste Disposal
- Coughing, sneezing, face touching
- Hand sanitizer stations at entrance/exit of program building
- Masks are worn by staff and student during any transportation
- Mask are worn in the community by staff and students frequenting indoor places that require all constituents to wear mask
- No sharing of classroom materials, electronics, or items in backpack
Cleaning, disinfecting, and ventilation
- Regular van sanitation
- Limiting number of people in a public forum
- Space must allow for social distancing (one student to a desk)
- Individual space for personal items, backpacks, etc.
- Engage in outdoor classes when appropriate
- Disinfecting of all classrooms daily
- Assign cleaning routines to staff
- Disinfect products from outside
Ventilation procedures
- Use outdoors when possible
- Maximize ventilation by seating arrangement when possible (LDI does not have windows that open)
- Reduce number of occupants in a space
- Reduce length of time and type of activity in shared spaced
- Minimize cross ventilation
Pillar #3 |
Programming: Offer Multiple Engagement Formats Staffing Patterns
Staffing patterns
- Staff provide virtual instruction, until safe to resume in-person classroom engagement
- Staff provide support and monitor student responsibilities in their apartments (based on program and contract)
- Team will act as substitute teachers, if needed for any reason
Curriculum Delivery
Young adult residential students will have personalized programming with assigned schedules which will reflect their next stage engagement in pursuing the goals/objectives from their Plan of Action.
In person delivery:
All services and supports will based on ability to do so safely, using Pillars #1. & #2.
- Weekly advisement
- Grocery shopping
- Apartment inspection
- Mentoring support
- Job development
- Scheduling off campus appointments
- Transportation • Volunteer opportunities
- College course of study assistance
- Financial planning
- Community resource assistance
Virtual online instruction:
Beginning August 10th and continuing until health/safety issues become manageable to allow for on campus interactions, all formal LDI classes for high school and young adult students will initially be conducted virtually, using the flipped classroom model.
- Each class has 30 minutes of independent study and 90 minutes of live, interactive instruction
- Staff for IT support
- Staff for instructional support
- Additional support, as indicated by student performance instructor observation, school reports, and overall need. Discussion with staff may at times need to occur.
- Post-secondary students support as indicated based on overall student performance, instructor observation, and feedback, consultation with staff, as well as documentation.
Recreation & Community activities:
Young adult residential students begin to return to their apartments on July 20 and will be in selfquarantine for 14 days after their arrival. High school students begin their academic year on August 10, and LDI will monitor emerging and prevailing community health concerns related to an increase or decrease incidence rate of COVID-19 in the Phoenix area.
Once the trendline of infection completely drops and flattens out for at least 14 days, or as per CDC guidelines, LDI will begin to plan and conduct community-based activities and social/recreational activities in compliance with Pillars #1. & #2. Procedures.
CDC Resources and Best Practices: Click here
Monitoring for the virus
- Symptoms
- Testing
- Quarantine and Isolation
- If staff feels sick (LOI has a staff policy in place)
Safety resources for training staff and students
- Everyday prevention
- Hand washing
- Coughing and Sneezing
- Masks
- Cleaning
- Disinfect
IMPORTANT NOTE: To all parents and students attending LDI!
If you have any COVID symptoms (see CDC site for symptoms) do not come to school! Please notify Rob Crawford or Veronica Lieb-Crawford of LDI management immediately. If you cannot reach them immediately, please leave a message. If you have been exposed to someone in your household that has been diagnosed with COVID please do not come to LDI, call first to discuss the situation. We will work together on determining what next steps can and should be taken, as well as ensuring equal access to ongoing virtual instruction.
