HCPS 411 Update

Content changes are in bold italics; previous update was May 21, 2020.

Guidance about COVID-19 is rapidly evolving; updates will be provided as needed.

If an employee has been directly exposed to someone who tests positive or is presumed to have COVID-19, the employee must follow the guidance of healthcare providers and state and local health departments.

Self-Checks

• It is a requirement that every employee complete a self-check, including temperature, before arriving to work.
• If an employee has a temperature of 100° F or more, or has a cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell, or other flu-like symptoms, the employee should stay home, notify their supervisor, and call their doctor.
• If the employee becomes sick during the day, they must inform their supervisor and go home immediately. HCPS communication processes will be enacted, including alerting HR and determining additional precautionary steps for the worksite.
• Employees cannot return to work until the criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with healthcare providers and state and local health departments.

Social Distancing and Masks (Updated guidance from the Harford County Health Department):

• All employees must practice social distancing and should maintain 6 feet between employees as work duties permit.
• An employee’s mask must cover the nose and mouth. Masks are not a substitute for social distancing.
• If you are alone in your private office/work space, it is not necessary to wear a mask.
• If you leave your desk to walk into an area where you may encounter another person, you must wear a mask. If a person comes into your office area and there is less than 6 feet, all parties must have their masks on at all times.
• If you work in an area that interfaces with the public, masks must always be worn.
• When in doubt, wear a mask.
• Employees must disinfect their office space after working without a mask.

Sanitation Guidelines:

• HCPS will follow sanitation guidelines, but employees can assist by disinfecting their personal areas and other communal areas such as door handles, shared equipment, communal work surfaces. Cleaning should occur at the start of the shift, midway through the workday, at the end of the shift and whenever needed.
• Employees must disinfect their office space after working without a mask.

Questions regarding employee benefits related to COVID-19, including leave, may be directed to Joanna.Hewitt@hcps.org or Lisa.Patterson@hcps.org.

Questions about face coverings may be directed to Kathy DeHoff, Medical Case Manager in Human Resources, at Kathleen.Dehoff@hcps.org.

The course catalog and registration link for Stars of Summer will go live on hcps.org tomorrow, Wednesday, July 1!

Stars of Summer is a virtual, camp-like summer school experience open to all kindergarten through incoming grade nine HCPS students. Participants will have unique opportunities to explore and engage in experiences catered to their age group from July 20 through August 14. Teacher-led experiences for students in kindergarten through first grade will focus on literacy and numeracy-centered experiences, while students in second through ninth grade will see experiences in all content areas ranging from topics like acting, cooking, science, social justice, writing, and more. Class sizes will be capped at 15 students.

Seats Still Available for Summer CPD Courses

Please see the course catalog for details: Summer/Fall 2020 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Course Catalog. Registration for these MSDE credit courses is available on HECTOR.

• Utilizing Office 365 for Educators (3 credits)

Questions should be directed to Lori Gohlinghorst via email at lori.gohlinghorst@hcps.org or by calling 410-273-5621.

MSDE Summer 2020 Virtual Workshops

Online summer professional learning opportunities are available through MSDE.

Teaching from a distance was a new experience for many of us. During the 2020 summer and for the future, various credit-bearing professional learning opportunities will be available to Maryland teachers that address the “how-tos” for distance learning. After completing professional learning opportunities, access the Professional Learning Program for Maryland Educators to submit and request hourly points towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits.

• 30 sessions

• Spanning July 6 - August 14

• Most earn CPD credits

• Registration now open

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/msde-2020-virtual-summer-workshops-registration-109024106036

Please see the flier and workshop program for more information.

The weekly Superintendent's Bulletin will resume publication in July. The Bulletin will be sent on Wednesdays, beginning July 8, 2020. If you would like information included in a future issue of the Bulletin, please send it to Bulletin@hcps.org, as you did in the past. Please note that only Board Members, Senior Staff and their secretaries, principals, assistant principals, lead secretaries, and instructional supervisors have access to the Superintendent’s Bulletin.

Editor: Lindsay Bilodeau, communications specialist

To submit an HCPS Shout Out or recognize a colleague in the Spotlight on Customer Service, please email the information and photo (if available) to HCPS.411@hcps.org.

Email: HCPS.411@hcps.org
Website: www.hcps.org
Location: 102 South Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 410-588-5213