Face Covering: Masking/Shielding
On August 4, 2020 the Governor of Ohio announced that “the Ohio Department of Health will issue a health order requiring that K-12 children wear face coverings while at school.” Exceptions will be made (e.g. medical conditions, disabilities, or when proper social distancing is achieved). We will also take into consideration practical expectations of our youngest students, and not require masks during lunch or during recess.
A facial covering (mask) is any material that covers an individual's nose, mouth, and chin, which is intended to capture the droplets from one’s mouth and nose. The most toxic droplets are prone to be captured by face coverings. On August 14, 2020 Governor DeWine with the Ohio Department of Health, announced that face shields are no longer a facial-covering option for K-12 faculty, staff, and students.
- Students must provide their own masks (neck gaiters may be worn also).
- Temporary Plexiglas barriers will be placed in school offices where physical distancing may be impractical.
- Per the state of Ohio mandate for schools, all faculty and staff will be required to wear a facial covering during the school day, except when alone in their assigned workspace or when it impedes the educational process.
Screening
All students, faculty, staff, and volunteers must self-screen, with the help of parents or a caregiver, when appropriate, before leaving home each school day. All students will also be temperature checked during their first period.
A person shall not come to school under any circumstances if he/she displays any one of the following symptoms:
- Chills or Fever 100 degrees or higher
- Persistent cough
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- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
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or any two of the following symptoms:
- Muscle or Body ache
- Headache
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- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
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*If your student has allergies, please be sure to monitor their medications to alleviate symptoms.
Any person determined by a staff person to meet these criteria during the school day will be immediately sent home or placed in a designated isolation area at school until they are taken home. It is required parents make immediate arrangements for the pick-up of a child presenting any of these symptoms.
Hand Hygiene
Regular hand washing and sanitizing are among the most effective ways to control viral spread. Students will have regular access to soap and water and hand sanitizers.
- All classrooms and common spaces will have hand sanitizer stations (not containing Methanol) available to students and staff. Students will be encouraged to use them regularly.
- Students will be expected to wash their hands before and after lunch, before and after recess, and after using the restroom.
- Instruction and reminders on handwashing will be provided by staff. Signs, announcements, and other methods will be used to reinforce the importance of hand hygiene.
Physical Distancing
All classrooms will follow these guidelines:
- Following the AAP guidelines, student seating will be placed up to 6’ apart but no less than 3’ apart.
- All desks will face the same direction. Seating will not be arranged to form tables in which students face each other.
- When possible, the sharing of supplies among students will be avoided. When supplies are shared, they will be disinfected between uses.
- Six feet of distancing between adults will be maintained when possible. The nature of the teacher to student relationship makes absolute adherence to this impractical, and perhaps undesirable. However, teachers will use common sense when applying distancing practices between themselves and their students.
- Students will be encouraged to maintain distancing at appropriate times. However, the recommendations from the AAP and UT indicate that this is not only impractical to maintain at all times but also undesirable since it affects important social interactions for students.
Cleaning and Sanitizing Practices
Although the primary method of COVID-19 transmission is through respiratory means, clean surfaces and environments play an important role also.
- Daily cleaning and sanitizing will take place with safe disinfectants labeled for use against SARS-CoV-2, paying particular attention to high touch surfaces like door handles, desks, and shared materials.
- All classrooms and common spaces will have access to cleaning supplies.
