Facilities, Ventilation, Safety Drills

KLSD adheres to all guidance related to health and safety. Our District will meet all social distancing requirements and will clean frequently touched spaces regularly to prevent spread of infection.

At the time of this writing, no facility changes or additions are intended. Should that change, will ensure that any changes or additions comply with the requirements of the 2020 New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (BC) and the State Energy Conservation Code and submit all changes to OFP.

In order to comply with the 2020 Building Condition Survey and Visual Inspection our architect is engaged, and inspections are to begin this August.

Our Water System Operator is prepared to begin testing as soon as our buildings are occupied, in order to conduct the Lead-In-Water Testing as required by NYS DOH regulation 67-4. 

All Alcohol-based Hand-Rub Dispensers will be mounted in each classroom in accordance the FCNYS 2020 Section 5705.5.

At the time of this writing, our District has no plans to install dividers in classrooms, libraries, cafeterias, auditoriums, gymnasiums, doors, and other points of congregation. If our plans should change, we will ensure the submission of detailed floor plans to Office of Facilities Planning (OFP) for review. 

If KLSD determines to use any plastic separators, they will comply with the 2020 Building Code of New York State (BCNYS) Section 2606. 

At the time of this writing, KLSD has no plans for new building construction. If that should change, we will ensure that all new building construction and temporary quarter projects will be submitted to OFP for a full code review. 

At the time of this writing, KLSD does not intend to lease new facilities. If that should change, we will provide a plan to consult with OFP for a preliminary evaluation.

If KLSD determines that we have use for and are able to locate tents for purchase or lease, we will provide plans adhering to the BCNYS. 

KLSD ensures that the existing or altered number of toilet and sink fixtures meet the minimum standards of the BCNYS. 

KLSD ensures that each building provides one drinking fountain per one hundred occupants in each of our schools.

KLSD maintains adequate, code required ventilation (natural or mechanical) as designed in each of our buildings. All KLSD HVAC systems are as designed by the architect and engineers under NYSED law. All units are being inspected by certified service technicians this summer and will be regularly inspected and maintained moving forward. If any units are found to working at anything less than their manufacturer’s specifications, the issue will be resolved as quickly as possible.

The District’s architects, engineers, and our facilities department, using the ASHREA and NYSED Guidance, have reviewed all the ventilation systems in our schools. They have ensured that all ventilation equipment is cleaned and is working to code and to its highest specifications. The filters used in our ventilation systems are to the highest specifications allowed under the manufacturer’s guidelines. Going forward all systems will be maintained in good working order to ensure they continue to operate at or above the designed specifications.

Additionally, to the extent practical and when it does not increase other health hazards, windows and doors will be kept open to enhance ventilation with outdoor air.

School safety remains a paramount consideration for KLSD.

As such, we remain aware that Education Law § 807 requires our schools to conduct 8 evacuation and 4 lockdown drills each school year.

This year, however, KLSD will make adjustments to drills in light of the pandemic.

Evacuation drills will be similar to those of the past and we will make every effort to have students exit the building in an orderly manner as quickly as possible. Students will be required to wear masks as they are exiting the building. They will line up outside in a social distanced manner, to the extent possible.

In lock-down drills, the goal will be to ensure hallways are clear of students and staff, doors are locked, and students and staff are out of sight, to the extent possible.  

KLSD Principals and building crisis teams will modify drill procedures in ways including but not limited to the modifications listed here:

• Drills will be conducted on a staggered schedule, where classrooms evacuate or lockdown separately rather than all at once (but ensuring all students have opportunities to participate in the drills)
• Appropriate distance will be kept between students during evacuation and lockdown drills
• Lockdown drills will be conducted in classroom settings while maintaining social distancing and using masks
• Lockdown drills will be conducted in classrooms without hiding/sheltering but will provide students an overview of how to shelter or hide in the classroom

Students will be reminded frequently that in an actual emergency that required evacuation or lockdown, the most important concern would be to get to safety and that maintaining social distancing may not be possible and would not be the first priority.