Moving Forward During COVID-19: Message From HTA's Governing Board & Executive Director

HTA COVID-19 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can students wear face shields in the place of masks when in class?

No. Per the Governor’s 15th Proclamation, all persons in the State of Hawai’i must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when in public and all persons must wear face coverings in compliance with county orders, rules, and directives. Face masks are the face covering mandated by the state. Face shields may be worn in addition to a mask but not instead of a mask.  ​

What happens if a student refuses to wear a mask?

Any student not wearing a mask will not be allowed to enter the building. We will have some disposable masks on campus in the event that a student forgets to bring his or her mask to school. Please remember that cloth masks should be washed after each use. We encourage students to have more than one cloth mask in their homes.

What happens if a student or teacher is exposed to COVID-19?

As soon as we are informed that a student or teacher has tested positive for COVID-19, the community will be notified. Due to HIPAA laws, we cannot identify the name of the exposed individual. The school will contact the Department of Health about the exposure and will ensure the facility is properly sanitized. All individuals exposed will need to remain home for 14 calendar days.

How will we carry out contact tracing?

We will take attendance of all students present on campus. Anyone entering the building who is not a student will be required to sign in. These two registers will allow us to know who was on campus each day in the event that someone is exposed to COVID-19.

What is an isolation room?

In the event a student is exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, all campuses have identified a room where the student will be taken and isolated while on campus. ​

How many people are allowed per classroom?

Depending on the size of the classroom, our campuses can only accommodate small student groups to safely follow social distancing requirements.

Is there a threshold for positive test numbers where we would go fully remote, regardless of county rating?

At this time, if one person who has been present on a campus tests positive, we will move to full virtual learning for 14 days.

Why can't all the campuses conduct core classes?

The smaller size of our buildings and classrooms prevents us from practicing effective social distancing when accommodating large classes. The number of students in a core class is simply larger than we can safely accommodate, even if divided in half for an A-B schedule.

How is the air quality in the school’s buildings?

Some classrooms have windows or lanais that can be opened to allow better ventilation. For rooms without outside ventilation, we have added air purifiers to improve the air quality. Please note that the purifiers do not claim to eliminate COVID-19; they help circulate the air, which is one of the recommendations from the CDC. ​

How can parents help us?

• Check your child each morning for signs of illness. A child with a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher should not be sent to school.
• Make sure your child does not have a sore throat or other signs of illness, such as cough, diarrhea, severe headache, vomiting, or body aches.
• A child who has been exposed to COVID-19 should not be sent to school. Follow guidance on what to do when someone has confirmed exposure.
• Make sure your child is up-to-date with all recommended vaccines, including the flu. All school-aged children should get an influenza flu vaccine every season, with rare exceptions. This is especially important this year because we do not yet know if being sick with COVID-19 at the same time as the flu will result in more severe illness. 
• Review and practice proper hand hygiene at home, especially before and after eating, sneezing, coughing, and adjusting a mask. Make hand washing fun and explain to your child why it’s important. 
• Support the school by reiterating the school policies and procedures to your child. Help us remind the students to keep the mask on. 
• Follow drop off and pick up procedures and help your child remember his/her HTA ID badge. The ID badge is the mechanism for students to enter campus and for contactless check in. Please note that parents must wear a face mask during drop off and pick up. ​

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HTA 2020 COMMUNICATIONS

Important Message to our Teachers and Staff | DECEMBER 10, 2020
Important Updates From HTA's Executive Director | NOVEMBER 12, 2020
Message From HTA's Executive Director | October 10, 2020
Important Update From HTA Governing Board & Executive Director | SEPTEMBER 29, 2020
Governing Board Meeting Reminder | SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
Distance Learning Survey for Learning Coaches | SEPTEMBER 14, 2020
​Governing Board Meeting Reminder | SEPTEMBER 12, 2020
Important Update from HTA Governing Board & Executive Director | AUGUST 12, 2020
Governing Board Meeting Reminder | AUGUST 8, 2020
Message From HTA Governing Board & Executive Director | JULY 29, 2020
Governing Board Meeting Reminder | JULY 25, 2020
Reopening HTA's Campuses: Letter From the Executive Director | JULY 15, 2020
Preparing for the 2020-21 School Year | JUNE 24, 2020
Helping our Children Understand Social Injustice | JUNE 10, 2020
Distance Learning Survey for Learning Coaches | JUNE 8, 2020
End of School Year Letter From the Executive Director | JUNE 2, 2020
HTA Offers Virtual Summer School | APRIL 29, 2020
Update on Concerns Surrounding Zoom Bombing | APRIL 7, 2020
Message From the Executive Director | APRIL 4, 2020
Important Information for Learning Coaches | APRIL 3, 2020
COVID-19 Update | MARCH 31, 2020
COVID-19 Update | MARCH 25, 2020
COVID-19 Update | MARCH 21, 2020
COVID-19 Update | MARCH 20, 2020
COVID-19 Update | MARCH 19, 2020
Spring Break Extended Due To COVID-19 | MARCH 15, 2020
COVID-19 Update | MARCH 12, 2020