Reopening Plan Main Page | Meals onsite | Meals offsite/remote
School meals will continue to be available to all students, including those attending school in-person and those learning remotely.
All meal information will be communicated to families through the District website, School Messenger emails, phone calls, text messages, and the Aspen Parent Portal.
Meals onsite
For students onsite, meals will be provided while maintaining appropriate social distancing between students. Students do not need to wear face coverings when seated and eating so long as they are appropriately socially distanced.
The sharing of food and beverages (e.g., buffet style meals, snacks) is prohibited, unless individuals are members of the same household. Adequate space will be reserved for students, faculty, and staff to observe social distancing while eating meals.
All surfaces will be wiped down between lunch periods, including recess equipment will be wiped down to ensure students can safely enjoy lunch and recess with appropriate social distancing measures in place even when in an outdoor space. Meals will be prepared with all health and sanitary guidelines as per the New York State Office of Childhood and School Nutrition. Buffet and communal style food will not be served; only pre-portioned pre-made meals will be available.
Breakfast onsite will be served to students in the cafeteria where there will be enough room to social distance for the number of students who participate. Social distancing markers and health and safety signage will be used.
Lunch for onsite students will be provided as follows:
Elementary procedures – K-5 onsite every day
- Lunch will be delivered to and served in the classroom.
- Lunch will be 25 minutes and recess will be 25 minutes, with 5 minutes in between each for cleaning and disinfecting.
- Staff from the middle school and high school kitchens will be shifted to assist meal preparation to elementary students.
- Lunch meals will be pre-ordered by classroom teachers.
- Allergy management plans will be implemented, as needed, to minimize risk of exposure to allergens. School nurses will oversee this process with teachers, food service staff, and/or lunch aides.
- Trash pick-up will occur at the end of the lunch period.
- Online prepayment of meals will be encouraged.
Secondary procedures – BCMS and BCHS
- The District will ensure social distancing between individuals while eating in large areas that may include the cafeteria, gym spaces and other locations. Cleaning and disinfecting of all surface areas will take place in between lunch periods.
- If not feasible, meals may be served in alternate areas (e.g., classrooms) or in staggered meal periods to ensure social distancing and proper cleaning and disinfection between students.
- Allergy management plans will be implemented, as needed, to minimize risk of exposure to allergens. School nurses will oversee this process with teachers, food service staff, and/or lunch aides.
- Online prepayment of meals will be encouraged.
Meals offsite/remote
Students choosing to learn remotely will have the opportunity to receive breakfast, lunch and weekend backpacks via pickup and delivery. Food service staff will be required to wear PPE and perform additional cleaning/sanitizing in the kitchen work area. Social distancing at meal pick up and during contactless delivery will continue to be a priority.
This same model will be used if the entire District is required to work remotely due to Health Department/state mandates.