Federal Programs » Health & Safety Plan

Health & Safety Plan

 

H&S Plan

Pennsylvania requires each school district to create a Health and Safety Plan that will serve as the local guideline for all instructional and non-instructional school reopening activities.
 
In August 2021, the Norwin Board of Education approved a Health and Safety Plan for the 2021-2022 school year. Revisions are made when needed to align the document with practices, procedures, recommendations, and requirements. Please click the link below to read the most current version of the District's Health and Safety Plan.
 
 
 
Highlights of the ARP ESSER Grant as it relates to Norwin School District:

 

Will the Norwin School District be required to implement universal mask requirements or social distancing protocols if it receives ARP ESSER funds?

  • No, a school district is not required to adopt these specific mitigation prevention strategies in order to receive ARP ESSER funds.


What is the “ARP ESSER Health and Safety Plan Guidance & Template”? 

  • The ARP ESSER Health and Safety Plan Guidance & Template is a tool developed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) for school districts applying for ARP ESSER funds to use in reporting their Health and Safety Plans.

Does the American Rescue Plan Act require school districts to adopt CDC guidance on COVID-19 mitigation in K-12 schools in their Health and Safety Plans as a condition of receiving ARP ESSER funds? 

  • The ARP does not require school districts to adopt any specific CDC guidance as a condition of receiving ARP ESSER funds. CDC guidance is meant to supplement – not replace – any federal, state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulation with which schools must comply (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-12-guidance.html). Therefore, the District will continue to follow the CDC guidance where required by law, rule, and regulations.

Once a school district submits its Health and Safety Plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by July 30, 2021, is it required to keep it in place for the entire 2021-2022 school year? 

  • ​No. Any school district accepting ARP ESSER funds under the American Rescue Plan Act is required to review its plans at least once every six months during the entire period of its ARP ESSER grant.

What if a school district does not have a school board meeting scheduled prior to the Health and Safety Plan submission deadline of July 31, 2021? 

  • A school district whose board will not meet prior to the submission deadline should submit its preliminary, unapproved safety plan to PDE by July 31, 2021.