Whitko Announces Reopening Plans
July 23, 2020 at 10:48 p.m.
By Staff Report-
“While we believe the most effective instruction for your child happens in the classroom, Whitko Community Schools is sensitive to families’ concerns about the safety of their child(ren),” stated the release. WCS will offer two delivery options for k-12 instruction: in-classroom instruction and distance learning.
Whitko Community Schools will continue to issue all k-12 students a Chromebook for use during the 2020-21 school year.
The classroom environment will focus on healthy and sanitary conditions to the greatest extent possible, which includes have instructional spaces being organized to create maximum space in the classroom to allow for social distancing. Acryclic dividers will be used when small groups are necessary to maximize instructional effectiveness. Larger spaces in the buildings will be organized to allow for social distancing. Lockers and other storage-type facilities will be assigned to students. Hand sanitizer will be available to students and staff. Physical education will be outdoors whenever possible. Playground equipment will be cleaned between uses.
At this time, face coverings for students will be required on buses, walking through the school and during emergency drills as applicable. Student face coverings during the entire school day are strongly recommended.
If a student shows symptoms of COVID, the student will isolate at school and parents will be called.
If a student tests positive for COVID, the parent must notify the school principal, even after hours. The county health department will be notified. The infected student will be required to isolate at home for at least 10 days from the time symptoms first appeared and be fever free without fever-reducing medication for 72 hours.
Health officials will work to determine who was a close contact. The close contacts will be required to quarantine at home for up to 14 days. Testing is recommended. Only parents of the child will be notified.
Whitko Community Schools will continue to provide meals for students, stated the news release. Students will wash their hands before breakfast and lunch. Lunch times will be staggered. Breakfast will be “grab and go” as students move to their classrooms. Lunch money will be collected by school staff prior to lunch time. Parents may still deposit lunch money online. The portal will be open Aug. 1. Lunch areas will be sanitized after each student group.
WCS will transport students to and from school. The school corporation recommends parents take their children to school whenever possibly to avoid excessive contact in a situation where social distancing is not possible.
All students will be assigned a seat for all bus transportation. Walk zones have been expanded with safety in mind. Buses will be regularly cleaned and sanitized between all trips. Bus drivers will have hand sanitizer if needed.
Signage will be placed throughout the school to promote hygiene and protective measures. Signs will be placed throughout the school with reminders of social distancing and one-way traffic if applicable.
Guest speakers and/or mentors can participate through virtual means. Field trips are suspended until further notice.
Students will continue to receive intervention and special education in the classroom environment. The Special Education Department will provide guidance regarding the delivery of special education services.
Large group activities in the schools will be suspended until further notice. WCS will follow cleaning and sanitizing schedules for each school on a daily basis. For purposes of contact tracing, students will remain in class groups where possible.
If there are any changes to the plan, a notice will be emailed to all families.
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“While we believe the most effective instruction for your child happens in the classroom, Whitko Community Schools is sensitive to families’ concerns about the safety of their child(ren),” stated the release. WCS will offer two delivery options for k-12 instruction: in-classroom instruction and distance learning.
Whitko Community Schools will continue to issue all k-12 students a Chromebook for use during the 2020-21 school year.
The classroom environment will focus on healthy and sanitary conditions to the greatest extent possible, which includes have instructional spaces being organized to create maximum space in the classroom to allow for social distancing. Acryclic dividers will be used when small groups are necessary to maximize instructional effectiveness. Larger spaces in the buildings will be organized to allow for social distancing. Lockers and other storage-type facilities will be assigned to students. Hand sanitizer will be available to students and staff. Physical education will be outdoors whenever possible. Playground equipment will be cleaned between uses.
At this time, face coverings for students will be required on buses, walking through the school and during emergency drills as applicable. Student face coverings during the entire school day are strongly recommended.
If a student shows symptoms of COVID, the student will isolate at school and parents will be called.
If a student tests positive for COVID, the parent must notify the school principal, even after hours. The county health department will be notified. The infected student will be required to isolate at home for at least 10 days from the time symptoms first appeared and be fever free without fever-reducing medication for 72 hours.
Health officials will work to determine who was a close contact. The close contacts will be required to quarantine at home for up to 14 days. Testing is recommended. Only parents of the child will be notified.
Whitko Community Schools will continue to provide meals for students, stated the news release. Students will wash their hands before breakfast and lunch. Lunch times will be staggered. Breakfast will be “grab and go” as students move to their classrooms. Lunch money will be collected by school staff prior to lunch time. Parents may still deposit lunch money online. The portal will be open Aug. 1. Lunch areas will be sanitized after each student group.
WCS will transport students to and from school. The school corporation recommends parents take their children to school whenever possibly to avoid excessive contact in a situation where social distancing is not possible.
All students will be assigned a seat for all bus transportation. Walk zones have been expanded with safety in mind. Buses will be regularly cleaned and sanitized between all trips. Bus drivers will have hand sanitizer if needed.
Signage will be placed throughout the school to promote hygiene and protective measures. Signs will be placed throughout the school with reminders of social distancing and one-way traffic if applicable.
Guest speakers and/or mentors can participate through virtual means. Field trips are suspended until further notice.
Students will continue to receive intervention and special education in the classroom environment. The Special Education Department will provide guidance regarding the delivery of special education services.
Large group activities in the schools will be suspended until further notice. WCS will follow cleaning and sanitizing schedules for each school on a daily basis. For purposes of contact tracing, students will remain in class groups where possible.
If there are any changes to the plan, a notice will be emailed to all families.
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