HCSS is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our staff and students throughout the entire school day, including lunchtime, when students will not be able to wear masks while eating.

• Students will be able to eat breakfast and lunch in cafeterias and other available eating areas.
• Faculty and staff monitors will supervise breakfast and lunch periods to ensure safety protocols are being followed.
• Students and staff are required to wear masks while moving about the cafeteria, including waiting in line for food or drinks.
• Plexiglass barriers will be used for all cafeteria tables.
• Students will be required to wear masks in the cafeteria when not actively eating and drinking.
• They will need to wear their masks while going through the serving line.
• Students will put their masks back on when they finish their meal.
• Cafeteria spaces will be regularly and thoroughly cleaned with a sanitizing solution.
• It is recommended that students wash their hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer before and after eating.

All students will be offered no-cost breakfast and lunch for the entire school year.

Important note:  Food shortages are nationwide, and our district is also experiencing unavailable items or last-minute replacements.  Menus are subject to change, but we will do our best to keep menus as stable as possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and we look forward to serving all students with no-cost meals this school year.

Your child may choose to bring their meals and snacks to school this year. HCSS encourages this practice for students who have specific dietary requirements or are particularly picky. Bringing food from home ensures your child will have the meals and snacks they enjoy to fuel their day of learning.

Trained HCSS building services staff will continue to clean and disinfect all high-touch locations in HCSS buildings on a regular basis. Door handles, light switches, sink handles, and other commonly handled surfaces are given special attention. Throughout the day, restrooms in communal areas are cleaned and disinfected more regularly. Staff will use approved disinfecting/sanitizing products.

• Safety protocols are established based on bathroom location and capacity.
• Bathroom breaks are carried out as they would be during normal school times.
• Signage is posted to remind students to wash their hands.
• Soap dispensers are filled on a regular basis

Bus transportation will resume for eligible families. Students and staff are required to wear masks on the bus, regardless of vaccination status. Bus drivers and attendants will clean and disinfect buses regularly. Weather permitting, bus drivers will keep the windows open to increase air circulation and decrease the likelihood of the virus being transmitted.

HCSS has taken these steps to improve ventilation and ensure the health and safety of students and staff.

• Assessed all existing systems and equipment
• Replaced all HVAC filters, upgrading them to the highest Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) efficiency possible for improved air filtration
• Increased fresh air ventilation in buildings
• Purchased portable air cleaners for installation in identified classrooms, specific offices, health rooms and areas that will be used as isolation rooms for those experiencing symptoms while at school
• Modified HVAC system operations to include an extended run time that will allow the air in buildings to be “flushed” before and after the facility is occupied
• Blueair Classic 605 comes with 3 sets of deep bed particle filters, two on each side and one on top. These 3 sets of filters ensure a large filter surface area, which is essential for effective filtration. With the electrostatic HEPASilent combination, the filtration system can trap 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.1 microns. 

Classrooms will be organized to maximize space and promote at least 3 ft. distancing, to the extent possible, between students. Classrooms will be configured in traditional fashions to accommodate the number of students enrolled for that class. When possible, additional furniture will be removed from classrooms, meeting rooms, and other areas to allow for physical social distancing and safe traffic flow.