Introduction
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel has developed its Institutional Plan for Restart based on the standards for Restart published by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education of New Jersey and on the Governor of New Jersey’s Executive Orders pertaining to Institutions of Higher Education.
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel included members of its community in the development of the plan, including members of the administration, members of the administrative staff, members of the faculty and student representatives.
This document anticipates a restart date of Thursday, August 20, 2020 and assumes that the State of New Jersey will be in Phase 3 and more fully open than it is now. Should this situation change, this document will be updated as soon as possible.
General Safeguarding
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel has instituted the following general safeguarding guidelines regarding sanitation and social distancing to protect the health and safety of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel has developed a cleaning and sanitation protocol as follows: Entrance halls and common areas will be cleaned twice a day, classrooms will be cleaned daily, restrooms will be cleaned and sanitized 3-4 times a day, and food preparation and service areas will be sanitized before and after each meal service.
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel requires all student, faculty, staff and visitors to wear face masks and social distance in common areas, except when doing so would inhibit individual’s health.
Students and staff will be requested to bring their own masks. Yeshiva will have a supply of masks available at the administrative office for those who should need them. Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will keep an adequate supply of personal protective equipment and supplies such as cleaning spray/ wipes, soap and hand sanitizer, paper towels, masks, and gloves. The Maintenance Manager, Jamie Hernandez, will be responsible to keep adequate stock of supplies and restock on a regular basis.
Everyone on campus will be required to adhere to social distancing requirements, promulgated by the State of New Jersey and the federal CDC. There will be tape markings on the floor of study halls, classrooms, and dining areas (when allowed to open) to indicate proper distances. Chairs and desks will be set up apart. The Maintenance Manager, Jamie Hernandez, will check and adjust the setup of all furniture every morning, to ensure that it is properly distanced.
Gatherings and assemblies will be limited to whenever absolutely necessary. All participants will adhere to social distancing and wear masks at any gatherings.
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel has developed a program to train students, faculty and staff regarding COVID sanitation and social distancing practices, as follows: Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will distribute pamphlets detailing sanitation and social distancing protocols, and describe how to recognize COVID symptoms and get tested if COVID infection is suspected. Signage will be prominently displayed.
For further information and websites offering training on COVID-19 safety protocols and procedures, students and staff are encouraged to visit the following sites.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
Screening, Testing, and Contact Tracing Protocols
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel has implemented protocols for COVID testing, contact tracing, and safely handling any positive or suspected cases of COVID. Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will be following all state and CDC guidelines for safe COVID handling and will be working with the Ocean County Health Department. All testing and contact tracing will be executed in a manner that will protect the privacy of those tested or confirmed to be infected with COVID. All confirmed cases of COVID will be reported to the local health department in a timely manner to ensure that proper measures and contact tracing can be put into effect. All students and personnel are required to be tested and have a negative test result before they can return to campus. Testing is available at the following location:
Chai Urgent Care
400 New Hampshire Avenue, Lakewood NJ, 08701
732-994-2424 (Appointments may be required)
Due to the limited staff, Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will not be offering on-campus testing. However, non-contact infrared thermometers will be available at the entrance with signage requesting a temperature check when entering the campus, and to then be repeated daily.
Once returned to campus, any person displaying COVID symptoms such as fever, difficulty breathing, and lack of taste and smell will be required to be re-tested. Should any person on campus test positive, Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will notify the Ocean County Board of Health and follow their protocol. Should a student become sick with COVID, Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will make arrangements to safely transport the student to his home. If transport is not safe or practicable, the student will be able to quarantine in a safe area which has been designated for this purpose. If the situation requires more serious and immediate attention, Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will contact an appropriate local urgent care provider.
Yeshiva will keep a log of all students, faculty, and staff that have returned to campus, in order to trace contact should someone on campus develop COVID-19. Visitors will be generally discouraged, and will only be allowed entry for urgent and essential reasons. Should someone need to visit, they will be required to sign in and provide contact information. Persons who had returned to campus prior to reopening, such as administrative and janitorial staff, will also be recorded.
Instruction
Stage 1
All instruction will be performed through distance education.
Stage 2
All instruction will be performed through distance education unless Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel is granted a waiver. If a waiver is granted, Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will follow the waiver’s guidelines for safe, limited in person instruction.
Stage 3
Safety protocols will be put in place to ensure that Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel is complying with general safeguarding measures as set by the State. Students and staff will be required to social distance in all classrooms and study halls. Furniture will be strategically placed to allow for social distancing, and tape markings on the floor will indicate proper distances. Signs will be prominently displayed, reminding all to social distance. Classrooms and study halls will be cleaned and sanitized daily. Cleaning spray bottles / disinfectant wipes will be placed in every room so that high touch areas and shared surfaces can be sanitized regularly.
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will accommodate faculty and students who cannot attend in person classes either because they are immune-compromised and at high risk for catching COVID, or because they are sick with COVID. A new entrance to the Study hall has been installed, it will be designated for the senior Rabbi to enter the study hall. Students will be able to continue learning via distance education. Faculty members will be accommodated to give classes over the phone or through Zoom if necessary. Additionally, Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel has installed a privacy fence to enclose the lawn area to encourage students to study outdoors. Additional furniture has been purchased to accommodate outdoor study.
On-Campus Residential Housing
Phase 1
No students will be allowed to reside on campus. Exceptions will be made only if a student has no home to return to or cannot return home due to extenuating circumstances.
Phase 2
Only a limited number of students will be allowed to live in the dormitory. The dorm will only be filled to a maximum of 65% capacity. Students with the greatest need will take priority to be allowed into the dorm. All common areas will be closed. And hallways will be cleaned and sanitized daily. Visitors will not be allowed in the dormitory unless it is absolutely necessary. Students will be encouraged to minimize visits to rooms other than their own. Off campus hosing has been facilitated for 35 students to reduce the number of students in the on-campus dormitory.
Phase 3
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel dorm/ on-campus residential housing will be operating at a reduced capacity. Our regular occupancy rate is 85% and our reduced occupancy rate will be 70%. All common areas will be sanitized by the maintenance staff daily, and bathrooms will be sanitized three times per day. Common areas will be open with clear signage reminding all to social distance. Spray bottles and disinfectant wipes will be placed in strategic locations throughout common areas so that shared space and equipment can be sanitized as needed. An off campus apartment has been designated for students sick with COVID to quarantine in, should the need arise. The space can accommodate 9 students. Additional off campus apartments can be designated for quarantine as well, should more space be necessary.
Libraries and Computer Labs
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel does not have a separate library facility. All books are stored on open stacks in the main study hall. Anyone using the books will need to follow the protocol set in place for the study hall.
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel does not have computer lab facilities.
Student Services
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel offers students services such as financial aid services, recordkeeping services (registration, transcripts, etc.) and individual tutoring and counseling. These services will continue to be available to students both in person with social distancing and by phone/Zoom. Students wishing to utilize these services in person may do so by appointment only. The office has no waiting room. We will strictly adhere to and space out these appointments to avoid any interactions between students.
Transportation
Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel campus is small, and all buildings on campus are easily accessible by foot. Shared rides are discouraged. Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will provide transportation for students sick with or displaying COVID symptoms.
Dining
Stage 1
All indoor dining facilities will be closed. Grab and go meals will be available to any students residing on campus.
Stage 2
All food preparations will be out sourced and served in a grab and go meals options. Outdoor dining options may be available. Outdoor diners will sit apart and engage in social distancing. Outdoor dining and food service areas will be cleaned and sanitized before and after each meal service. Additionally, Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel has installed a privacy fence to enclose the lawn area to encourage outdoor dining. Additional furniture has been purchased to accommodate outdoor dining.
Stage 3
All dining and food service will follow the Governor’s Executive orders. When indoor dining is allowed, Yeshiva Gedola Tiferes Yerachmiel will have separate meal times for different grade levels, to ensure that the dining room will only be filled to lower capacity and that all students will be able to maintain distance during meals. Chairs will be placed apart, and tape markings on the floor will indicate proper distance. We will provide trainings for dining employees on appropriate sanitization and social distancing practices and protocols. All surfaces will be wiped down and disinfected before and after food service, and in between shifts. The percentage of capacity and number of students allowed in the dining room will be adjusted as necessary to comply with the governor’s executive orders. Ari Josilowski will be responsible to deliver food to quarantined students in a safe manner. Grab and go meal options will be available to any student who prefers not to eat in the dining room. If the governor’s order does not allow for indoor dining at the time of reopening, adjustments will be made to accommodate outdoor dining or provide grab-and-go meals available for pickup.