South Hills Announces Plan for Return to In-Person Instruction

 
 
UPDATE: Return From Holiday Break Testing Strategy

Date: November 24, 2020
To: All South Hills Students
From: Paul Mazza III
Topic: Return From Holiday Break Testing Strategy

In addition to the July 30, 2020 Return to In-Building Instruction Plan (see below), South Hills will deploy the following strategy to control the spread of COVID-19 at our facilities. This will go into effect on December 1, 2020.

  1. South Hills will require a Negative C-19 Test for anyone who:
    • has COVID-19 symptoms, as defined by the CDC
    • has traveled outside of PA (other than for “exceptions,” as defined by PA Dept. of Health)
  2. A quarantine (as defined by the PA Dept. of Health) will be applied to anyone who:
    • has a positive test result
    • refuses to test after out-of-state travel
    • refuses to test after exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms
    • has been “exposed” (as defined by the PA Dept. of Health) to a positively tested individual
  3. South Hills will post lists of the most common COVID-19 symptoms in various high visibility locations so that everyone who enters the building is highly aware of the symptoms. This posting will also include the direction to not enter the building if any of the symptoms are present.
 
 

Date: July 30, 2020
To: All South Hills Students
From: Paul Mazza III
Topic: Return to In-Building Instruction Announcement

Introduction

We are now just one month away from the start of school. I pray that your summer has been a safe and healthy one and that you’ve taken the opportunity to fill your days with as much “normalcy” as possible during these difficult times.

We know how important it is, especially at career schools like South Hills, to provide you with focused and hands-on instruction. South Hills’ leadership and facility teams have been working tirelessly to ensure we welcome you back to a safe and healthy learning environment. We have been in collaboration with health officials and intend to comply with all CDC and Pennsylvania issued guidance.

In addition to the link to our COVID-19 Response Plan, we have highlighted some specific areas, listed below, that we know will be on the top of your minds. Please take time to review this information prior to the start of school. Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Returning to Class

South Hills School of Business & Technology will be resuming in-building instruction on August 31, 2020. Online platforms such as ZOOM will be made available for students who are unable to attend due to COVID-19 related circumstances. If circumstances warrant this approach, please contact the school at health@southhills.edu. In some situations, platforms such as ZOOM may be utilized to allow for remote instruction or to accommodate larger class sizes utilizing a distributed classroom.

Masking Protocol

Face coverings will be required when social distancing cannot be maintained. Most classrooms will be set up so social distancing is possible, but other public spaces (hallways, common areas, restrooms, etc.) will require face coverings to be worn. The PA Secretary of Health’s full face covering order and exceptions to this requirement can be found at https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/20200701-SOH-Universal-Face-Coverings-Order.pdf.

In some cases, individual face shields may be provide for close contact lab work. Students will be responsible for providing their own face covering, but spare masks will be available if needed. If you have circumstances that prevent you from being able to comply with this requirement, please contact the school at health@southhills.edu.

Social Distancing Protocol

All rooms have been surveyed and assigned a max capacity to ensure the 6 feet distance requirement. We are currently working on a schedule that will allow us to adhere to these numbers, which may include staggered class and break times, multiple common hours, and extended school days. For larger classes, this may also include a distributed classroom approach where the faculty member will instruct via Zoom over two classrooms.

Disinfecting Protocol

There will be an area immediately upon entering equipped with sanitizing products. We ask that upon entry to the building you sanitize your hands. An infrared thermometer will also be available at the front desk if you are concerned that you are ill. Each classroom will have a disinfecting station and students will be asked to sanitize their workstation before and after their class period.

South Hills COVID-19 Protocol and Response Plan

Please click here to view South Hills’ COVID-19 Response Plan.

All staff, faculty, and students will be required to sign a COVID-19 Attestation & Waiver acknowledging the school’s plan and agreeing to comply with the protocols set forth by the school.

Questions/Concerns

We ask that all questions or concerns be directed to health@southhills.edu. We will also be holding a session for first-year students at orientation devoted to this topic on August 20, 2020. A Zoom meeting will be set up for all returning students on August 26, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. to communicate additional information and answer any questions prior to returning to school.

We look forward to a healthy, successful start to our school year.