Beaver Island Community School
BICS Adaptive COVID Response Plan 2022
Approved Monday, March 14, 2022
Effective 8:00 am, Monday, March 21, 2022
Beaver Island Community School is committed to providing high-quality face-to-face in-person
instruction while keeping our students safe and complying with applicable laws. This adaptive
response plan serves as the BICS policy regarding the remainder of the school year. Beaver
Island Community School will revisit the following plan on a monthly basis as we continue the
2021-2022 school year.
The purpose of this adaptive response plan is to allow BICS to be able to adapt to rapid changes
in the COVID-19 situation based on COVID cases in Michigan as a whole, in Northwest
Michigan, on Beaver Island, and in the school population. To ensure changes from one level to
another can be made in the most expeditious and non-political manner, this plan authorizes the
superintendent, in consultation with HDNW and the Beaver Island Rural Health Center
(BIRHC), to determine movement between levels. In summary, this adaptive response plan has
three levels:
1. Standard (Green) Level—The Standard Level involves the continuation of ongoing
mitigatory measures (e.g., cohorting, social distancing, cleaning, parent screening of
students), providing rapid testing at school, adhering to HDNW quarantine guidelines,
and supporting individuals who choose to wear protective facial coverings. Masking is
recommended and supported but not required.
2. Precautionary (Yellow) Level—The Precautionary Level would involve the same
ongoing mitigatory measures as the Standard Level, with the addition of requiring
wearing facial coverings at all times in the building other than when students are sitting at
their desks in a socially-distanced classroom. Students and staff will wear masks when in
common areas, when working in close proximity, when the entire student body is
gathered indoors, and during community events held at the school, etc. All parents and
guests are required to wear masks when in the building.
3. Protective (Red) Level—The Protective Level would involve the same ongoing
mitigatory measures as the Standard Level, with the requirement that masks be worn by
all K-12 students, all staff members, and all parents and guests when in the school
building. Non-parent guests would be limited to those with essential work in the building
(e.g., contractors).
In making the decision to move from one level to another, the superintendent will consult with
the HDNW and BIRHC and consider a variety of factors, including COVID-19 case,
hospitalization, and morbidity rates at the national, state, regional and local (on-Island) scale,
proximity of cases to the school population, emergence of new variants and their potential threat
to the student population, vaccination availability and rates, and timing (e.g., proximity to a
break when students or staff may be traveling). Due to both the ever-changing nature of the
COVID-19 virus and range of factors to be considered, there are no “set” metrics to trigger going
from one level to another.
Beaver Island Community School
Adaptive COVID Response Plan 2022
Standard (Green) Level
Face Coverings
The wearing of masks in the school building recommended and supported but not required.
Parents and Visitors
Parents and those listed as emergency contacts are welcome to come into the school building for
school business and to serve as chaperones on field trips. Visitors who would like to tour the
school building are asked to call ahead to set up an appointment with the front office.
Field Trips and Guest Lecturers
Upon prior approval from the superintendent-principal, teachers are welcome and encouraged to
take their students on field trips and invite guest lecturers into their classrooms.
Cohorts
The Elementary and Secondary programs are considered two separate cohorts. Activities that
bring the two cohorts together will be conducted outside or in manner and location that allows
physical distancing (such as the gymnasium).
Interscholastic Athletics
BICS will follow any and all guidelines issued by the MHSAA, HDNW, or the MDHHS.
Physical Distancing
We will endeavor to physically distance students as much as possible in classrooms and during
lunch to reduce spread of COVID-19 and other viruses. Teachers will be encouraged to conduct
class outside when feasible. Gatherings of more than one class or multiple grade levels will take
place in locations that are conducive to physical distancing (i.e., outdoors or in the gymnasium).
Healthy Indoor Environment
We will maintain our daily cleaning protocols and use of the Clorox 360 machine to reduce the
risk of transmitting illnesses from surfaces. We will continue to utilize HEPA filters and operate
with an increased percentage of outside air.
Contact Tracing and Quarantines
We will facilitate contact tracing with cases that are associated with the school. We will follow
the most updated quarantine guidelines established by the HDNW for any positive cases with
those individuals associated with the school.
Testing
BICS will continue to provide rapid testing to students and parents who request it.
Transportation
Whenever students are being transported via bus, airplane, or private vehicle for school purposes,
they are encouraged, but not required, to wear masks (unless CDC, FAA, or TSA regulations say
otherwise for airline or other public mass transportation).
Beaver Island Community School
Adaptive COVID Response Plan 2022
Precautionary (Yellow) Level
Face Coverings
The wearing of masks in the school building is required for all individuals in common areas,
when working in close proximity, during all-school events, and during community events held in
the building. Students may remove their masks when sitting at their desks in a socially-distanced
classroom. Teachers may remove their masks when socially distanced from students.
Parents and Visitors
Parents and those listed as emergency contacts are welcome to come into the school building for
school business and to serve as chaperones on field trips. Visitors who would like to tour the
school building are asked to call ahead to set up an appointment with the front office. Parents and
guests are required to wear masks at all times when in the building.
Field Trips and Guest Lecturers
Upon prior approval from the superintendent-principal, teachers are welcome and encouraged to
take their students on field trips and invite guest lecturers into their classrooms. All guest
lecturers will wear a mask while in the school building.
Cohorts
Masks will be worn by all students and staff when BICS cohorts are brought together indoors.
Interscholastic Athletics
In addition to MHSAA, HDNW, or MDHHS guidelines, BICS students and visiting athletes will
wear masks when not actively engaged in play or practice.
Physical Distancing
We will endeavor to physically distance students as much as possible in classrooms and during
lunch. Teachers will be encouraged to conduct class outside when feasible. Gatherings of more
than one class or multiple grade levels will take place in locations that are conducive to physical
distancing (i.e., outdoors or in the gymnasium).
Healthy Indoor Environment
We will maintain our daily cleaning protocols and use of the Clorox 360 machine to reduce the
risk of surface transmission and continue to utilize HEPA filters and operate with an increased
percentage of outside air.
Contact Tracing and Quarantines
We will facilitate contact tracing with cases that are associated with the school. We will follow
the most updated quarantine guidelines established by the HDNW for any positive cases with
those individuals associated with the school.
Testing
BICS will continue to provide rapid testing to students and parents who request it.
Transportation
Whenever students are being transported via bus, airplane, or private vehicle for school purposes,
they will wear facial masks for the duration of the trip.
Beaver Island Community School
Adaptive COVID Response Plan 2022
Protective (Red) Level
Face Coverings
All students and staff must wear facial coverings during all times when in the building.
Parents and Visitors
Parents and those listed as emergency contacts must wear a mask in the school building and may
only enter with prior approval. Contractors may enter the building only when performing work
deemed essential with prior approval.
Field Trips and Guest Lecturers
There will be no indoor field trips to other locations nor guest lecturers in the building.
Cohorts
The BICS cohorts will not be brought together indoors. Any all-school activities will take place
outside in a socially distanced manner.
Interscholastic Athletics
In addition to MHSAA, HDNW, or MDHHS guidelines. BICS students and visiting athletes will
wear masks at all times.
Physical Distancing
We will endeavor to physically distance students as much as possible in classrooms and during
lunch. Teachers will be encouraged to conduct class outside when feasible. There will be no
gatherings of more than one class inside the building.
Healthy Indoor Environment
We will maintain our daily cleaning protocols and use of the Clorox 360 machine to reduce the
risk of surface transmission and continue to utilize HEPA filters and operate with an increased
percentage of outside air.
Contact Tracing and Quarantines
We will facilitate contact tracing with cases that are associated with the school. We will follow
the most updated quarantine guidelines established by the HDNW for any positive cases with
those individuals associated with the school.
Testing
BICS will continue to provide rapid testing to students and parents who request it.
Transportation
Whenever students are being transported via bus, airplane, or private vehicle for school purposes,
they will wear facial masks for the duration of the trip.
