N.M. Admin. Code § 6.12.14.8

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 21, November 5, 2024

Section 6.12.14.8 - REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOLS

A. All public schools and local school districts shall:

(1) follow all public health orders and executive orders and department guidance for the operation of schools and school premises, including school transportation; testing programs detailed in department guidance;

(2) participate in surveillance testing programs detailed in department guidance;

(3) adhere to social distancing requirements;

(4) require all persons on school premises, and in school vehicles, to wear face coverings per department guidance and current statewide public health orders;

(5) cooperate immediately and fully with department officials, environment department officials, fire marshals, state police and other officials conducting site visits and investigating COVID-safe practices; and

(6) to the extent possible, implement practices to promote social emotional learning, support high quality teaching and learning, and effectively communicate with tribal communities and families.

B.COVID-19 safe practices. All local school districts and public schools shall maintain communication with department of health officials shall report all confirmed cases of COVID-19 in students, staff, contractors and volunteers to the department and the environment department as appropriate; and shall perform all COVID-19 safe practices described or referenced in department guidance, such as:

(1) working with school administrators, school nurses, and other healthcare providers to identify an isolation room or area to separate anyone who exhibits COVID-like symptoms;

(2) closing off and limiting access to areas potentially affected by COVID-19 exposure and, if possible, wait 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting;

(3) requiring school nurses and other healthcare providers to use centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) recommended standard precautions when caring for sick people, including:

(a) engaging in frequent hand hygiene;

(b) using personal protective equipment when there is an expectation of possible exposure to infectious material;

(c) following respiratory hygiene and coughing etiquette;

(d) ensuring appropriate patient placement in quarantine or isolation;

(e) ensuring the proper handling and disinfection of patient care equipment and instruments;

(f) ensuring the careful handling of textiles and laundry;

(g) following safe injection practices; and

(h) ensuring healthcare provider safety, including proper handling and disposal of needles and other sharps.

(4) requiring school nurses and other healthcare providers to use CDC recommended transmission-based precautions when caring for sick people, including:

(a) establishing procedures for safely transporting anyone who is sick home or to a healthcare facility;

(b) closing for 24 hours parts of school buildings if used by a COVID-19 infected person then clean and disinfect before re-opening affected areas;

(c) advising sick staff members and children not to return until they have met New Mexico department of health criteria to discontinue home isolation; and

(d) informing those who have had close contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and follow New Mexico department of health guidance.

C.Small group instruction. School districts and schools are permitted to provide small group instruction pursuant to department guidance regardless of whether the school district or school is in the remote learning, hybrid learning, or full reentry operational model.

D.Continuation of Remote Learning. When in-person learning is available through a hybrid operational model or full reentry operational model, school districts and schools shall continue to offer remote learning to students who choose remote learning.

E.Transportation. School districts and schools shall follow department guidance, which requires students to sit in spaced and assigned seating while being transported to and from schools, limits the number of students who may be seated together on a bus seat, and sets forth detailed requirements and suggestions for COVID-19 safe practices for the transportation of students.

F.Student movement and gathering. School districts and schools in the hybrid or full reentry operating category shall keep students' and student groups' movements and gatherings safe pursuant to current department guidance, which presently includes:

(1) limiting mixing among different student groups to the greatest extent practicable;

(2) for class changes and other transitions throughout the day:

(a) designating flow paths in hallways to keep students separated and minimize the congregation of students;

(b) planning staggered class changes to decrease the number of students in the hallways at one time;

(c) having the same group of students stay with the same staff in elementary school; and

(3) for student gatherings:

(a) avoiding large group gatherings, and abiding by the maximum number of people allowed to congregate as defined by current public health orders;

(b) prohibiting the congregation of students in parking lots and common areas;

(c) staggering the schedules for group gatherings such as recess or meals;

(d) identifying and utilizing large spaces, such as gymnasiums, auditoriums, and outdoor spaces as weather permits for social distancing; and

(e) following the New Mexico activities association's guidelines for extracurricular activities and similar congregate events.

G.Staffing. All school districts and schools shall follow public health orders, executive orders and department guidance as updated from time to time and shall:

(1) train staff in local and state rules regarding health and safety procedures, such as appropriate use of personal protective equipment and procedures for when school personnel or students exhibit symptoms of COVID-19; and

(2) establish processes, aligned with school district or charter school human resource departments to process formal requests for reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Professional development, other trainings and staff meetings conducted in-person on school premises require staff to remain socially distanced at a distance of six feet or more apart from each other and adhere to all other COVID-Safe Practices; otherwise, professional development, other trainings and staff meetings must be conducted remotely.

H.Tribal sovereignty. School districts and schools shall honor tribal sovereignty and abide by applicable tribal public health orders, tribal executive orders and tribal council resolutions.

N.M. Admin. Code § 6.12.14.8

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXI, Issue 23, December 15, 2020, eff. 12/3/2020, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 03, February 9, 2021, eff. 1/29/2021, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 04, February 23, 2021, eff. 2/11/2021, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 07, April 6, 2021, eff. 3/24/2021