COVID-19 Considerations for Reopening Schools: Facilities and Logistics

As districts contemplate how to safely reopen schools for the coming year, it is important that each facility that is used to carry out the mission of the district be maintained to provide a safe and healthy environment. This maintenance involves cleaning and sanitization, modifications supporting social distancing, modification of movement patterns for both vehicular and foot traffic and building security. District administrators should designate a working group of maintenance and custodial staff to assess any additional needs and request resources to provide a safe environment for students and staff. All normal inspections and maintenance functions must be completed as well. General recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for cleaning and disinfecting may be found on the CDC's website. This document provides the following additional considerations and recommendations for districts to contemplate as reopening plans for individual school sites and ancillary buildings are developed: (1) Cleaning and Sanitization; (2) Facility Utilization; (3) Building Systems; (4) Emergency Response Drills; (5) Vehicular Traffic Control; and (6) Drop-Off and Dismissal. A sample site inventory worksheet and sample custodial checklist are included.