The following provides guidelines for the resumption of driver’s education instruction. The guiding goals are the health and safety of all NSCN instructors, employees and students. As such, the following strategies and considerations will be followed:
Guiding Values (in no particular order):
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Safety of employees, visitors and the community are of primary importance
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Confidentiality of employees
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Integrity – Doing the right thing
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Transparency between employees/leadership
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Continuity of operations
For Instructors:
Ask yourself the following questions before coming in to work each day:
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Do I feel sick or have any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath?
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Have I been in close contact with someone who has either tested positive for COVID-19, is a presumptive positive, or who exhibits the aforementioned symptoms?
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IF the answer to either of those questions is YES – call or contact your direct supervisor either before coming to work or immediately upon arriving, and they will make an appropriate decision.
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There is no documentation requirement for this self-assessment.
For Students:
Instructors should have a brief conversation with students prior to entering the vehicle and driving with them:
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Ask students if they feel sick or have a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.
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Ask students if anyone in their household has tested positive for COVID-19 or if they have any reason to believe they have been exposed.
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IF the answer to either of these questions is YES, contact your supervisor for guidance and an appropriate decision will be made.
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Encourage students to use hand sanitizer before leaving the Council lobby and entering the vehicle for a driving session. While this is not a requirement, it is strongly recommended.
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There is no documentation requirement for this conversation with students.
Preventative Strategies:
According to CDC, COVID-19 can remain on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours, and is also transmitted through airborne droplets. As such, driving instructors will be required to wear a KN95 mask, provided by NSCN. Instructors will be medically evaluated and receive additional training on these masks and their use prior to drive sessions.
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Instructors are required to wear the mask the entire time they are in the car with students.
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Mask fit and adjustment instructions will be provided in a separate, visual guide, co-located with the masks in the Council’s break room, in addition to webinar-based training all instructors will be required to complete.
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After each student drives/before changing student drivers, and at the end of every drive session, instructors are required to wear rubber gloves while sanitizing the vehicle with the provided wipes. This includes:
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Wiping down all interior touch surfaces the students have contact with: steering wheel, shifter, e-brake, dash, mirror and window controls, seat belt, radio controls, and interior and exterior door handles, etc.
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Instructors are required to wipe down the front passenger touch surfaces at the end of each drive session before they are done for the day.
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If wiping down occurs away from the Council lot, use a trash bag located in the vehicle’s trunk and dispose of the used wipes in the dumpster upon arrival back to the Council parking lot.
Miscellaneous Guidelines:
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In-car students are required to wear masks. If a student wishes to wear their own mask or gloves, they may do so, as long as it does not interfere with their vision, communication, or driving ability. The Council will provide students a surgical mask if necessary.
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In-car instructors are required to wear gloves. Students are not required to wear gloves. If students wish to wear gloves of any type, that is their choice and they will not be prevented from doing so.
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If a student coughs or sneezes in the vehicle, be certain to wipe down any surfaces you think have been contaminated, in addition to touch surfaces.
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The provided KN95 masks are intended for a week’s use. Do not share masks. Instructor masks may be maintained in a labeled paper bag located in the instructor’s locker. Mark the masks on the exterior with your initials and date of first use to ensure they are not used for longer than one week.
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If utilizing the steering wheel model in the lobby with students, wipe it down with the provided wipes after each use.
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Classroom instructors and students are not required to wear masks. They may do so if they choose.
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If unsure or feel uncomfortable about working, teaching or driving with a particular student, or have questions about the sanitation and mask requirements, contact your supervisor.
If you have any questions, please call our office at 402.898.7371 and our staff will be happy to help.
We appreciate your understanding and look forward to serving you.