COVID-19 In-Person Plan 2021-2022

COVID-19 In-Person Plan for 2021-22

Anthony Wayne Local Schools

August 2021

As we did in the 2020-21 school year, AWLS will continue to provide a safe learning environment for students and staff. The District will continue to monitor the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Ohio Department of Health, and Lucas County Health Department COVID-19 recommendations and orders. The District has developed policies and procedures to address these recommendations and orders that will allow us to have in-person learning.  

Safe for students.

Safe for staff.

Safe for our community.

We are on the same team! We are all Generals! 

We must come together to provide a safe environment for the students and staff of Anthony Wayne Local Schools. In some cases, COVID-19 has brought us together as a nation; however, in other cases, it has created a large division in the ideology on how best to approach our “new normal” of living in a world with this virus. I’m hopeful that we can come together to provide a safe environment for all students to be present each day for the upcoming school year. 

Overview

The COVID-19 virus has created a number of challenges for school districts across the world. In order to provide the safest environment possible for our students and staff, there is a need to have COVID-19 guidelines and requirements for this school year. The Anthony Wayne Local School District (AWLS) is committed to the following guiding principles as we plan to return to school:

• AWLS will make sure our schools are fully cleaned, disinfected and equipped to maintain safe conditions.

• AWLS will have a support system for students and staff as they participate in instruction and activities in the upcoming school year.

• AWLS will utilize a multi-layered deployment of personal safety measures to mitigate the transfer of the virus.

• AWLS will continue to work closely with the Lucas County Health Department to promote safety in each school building. In the event there is a confirmed case of COVID-19, the District will work with health officials to implement the appropriate steps as provided by the health department and notify students, staff, and parents as required. 

Please know that we will continue to work with the local health department, the Ohio Department of Health, and other health organizations to review and modify our plans as needed. We understand that virus guidance may change from these organizations and our plans may need to be modified throughout the school year in order to accommodate these changes.

Recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Ohio High School Athletic Association:

The following are recent recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health and Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Vaccinations are highly recommended for students and staff that are eligible for the vaccine.

• Vaccinations are highly recommended for students and staff that are not vaccinated.

• The CDC recommends that all students and staff wear masks while in school.

• The CDC requires by Federal order that all passengers and staff on a school bus wear a mask.

• Daily symptoms checks are recommended for students and staff.

• Good hygiene (washing hands, use of hand sanitizer, etc.) is recommended.

• The ODH has shared that the use of masks are “not necessary” when students and staff are outdoors, at recess, or engaging in physical activity.

2021-22 School Year Schedule

AWLS plans to have all students participate each day within an in-person learning schedule during the school year. 

I want to assure you that the schedule options are based on the unique characteristics of the school district (i.e., size of classrooms, size of hallways and other building structures, geographical size of the district, etc.), the recommendations from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Ohio Department of Health (ODH), the Lucas County Health Department, and other medical/public health experts. In addition, all public school districts, when creating this plan, are required to follow the rules, regulations, and laws as created by local, state, and federal agencies.  While there are many items to consider when creating this plan, safety of students and staff, the social-emotional state of students and staff, and the educational growth of our students are the top priorities.

During the All-In Schedule

• All students will be in attendance five days per week.

• All students and staff will follow enhanced hygiene and safety protocols including: face coverings are highly recommended, frequent hand washing/use of hand sanitizer, covering mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, staying home when ill for any reason or having a temperature at or above 100 degrees, or experiencing any symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. 

• AWLS will strive to maintain social distancing in school buildings that is allowable by the specific building design and recommended by health agencies.

• The Operations Department will clean the school buildings each day utilizing the recommendations from the local and state health departments. 

• Some school practices, such as lunches and classroom experiences, may be altered to promote student and staff safety. 

• Junior High and High School athletics will proceed in accordance with recommendations from the Ohio High School Athletic Association. 

• Students will have assigned seating in many locations as allowable by the activity. This procedure is necessary as the Ohio Department of Health and Lucas County Health Department will still require contact tracing in schools at this time. 

Safety Precautions: Keeping Students and Staff Safe

Protection of Staff and Students

According to the Cleveland Clinic’s Return to School Amid COVID-19 guide, “while no single personal protective equipment is 100% effective, when used together, they add layers of protection and support a culture of safety.” The primary layers of protection to provide a safe environment that will be used are handwashing/use of hand sanitizer, cleaning and disinfecting, physical distancing, temperature screening, use of masks as needed, and staying home when sick. As medical experts have shared, when we use these protective actions together, we minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission. While there are several safety precautions the District will have in place, the below list provides answers of the frequently asked questions in this area. 

Daily Symptom Assessments

• All staff will be asked to complete a daily temperature and COVID-19 symptoms check at home prior to coming to work or school. 

• All parents/caregivers will be asked to assess students’ temperatures and complete a check for all COVID-19 symptoms at home before each school day. 

• All individuals who do not meet the temperature assessment, temperature of less than 100F and/or COVID-19 symptoms, should STAY HOME. If a staff member experiences these symptoms and/or has an elevated temperature of 100F or higher while at school, he or she will go home and be referred to his or her physician. If a student experiences these symptoms and/or has an elevated temperature of 100F or higher while at school, he or she will go to the office first and then will go home and be referred to his or her physician.

Student/Staff Distancing throughout the school day

• Classroom occupancy will be determined based on the classroom size, school facilities, and building schedules.  Physical distancing recommendations will be followed as dependent on the specific schedule and each building design. 

• Principals will provide a procedure for spacing students apart during student arrival and dismissal. 

• Students will be spaced out up to three feet of distance while in cafeterias. Specific information with regards to the cafeteria and food services will be provided by each building.

• Student restroom breaks will be staggered and monitored, the number of students in the restroom at one time will be limited. 

• Student transitions may be limited during the school day. All students will enter the school building through specific entrances, will proceed to their assigned classroom, and sit in their assigned seats until their class begins. In some cases, students will stay in the classroom during instructional time and their teachers will rotate classrooms to deliver instruction without having students transition to another room. If students need to travel in a hallway, a building specific schedule will be in place to minimize student interactions and maintain physical distancing. At the end of the day, building specific procedures will be utilized to release students while maintaining physical distancing. 

• Students will have more opportunities to go outside for classroom instruction when appropriate and weather permitting.

Masks

Staff

• The ODH, CDC, and the AWLS recommend that all individuals should wear a mask at all times. 

• According to the Federal CDC order, all staff will wear masks on school buses/vans. 

• Staff may wear face shields only under very specific circumstances with permission from the administration.

Students 

• The ODH, CDC, and the AWLS recommend that all individuals should wear a mask at all times. 

• According to the Federal CDC order, all students will wear masks on school buses/vans. 

• Students may wear face shields only under very specific circumstances with permission from the administration.

Parents and other individuals

• The ODH, CDC, and the AWLS recommend that all individuals should wear a mask at all times while on school property.

Other items related to masks

• Face masks shall not include respirators (unless required for medical reasons), masks designed to be worn for costume purposes, etc. All face coverings/masks shall meet the requirements of the Dress Code policy and/or Code of Conduct.

Hand washing and use of hand sanitizer

• Students will have the opportunity to wash their hands throughout the school day and will have access to hand sanitizer. 

• Students are encouraged to have personal hand sanitizer with them during the school day. 

• Hand sanitizer will be available in several locations throughout the school building. 

• Students will be asked to utilize hand sanitizer at various times during the school day including when getting on the school bus, entering a school building, prior to eating lunch, and returning into the building after being outside (i.e., recess).

Physical Distancing

• AWLS will strive to provide physical distancing of students as the facilities allow.

Cleaning of school facilities and buses

• Based on the recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health, AWLS will clean school facilities and buses. Operations staff schedules will be adjusted to maximize cleaning services in the District. The operations staff has coordinated plans to address commonly touched areas throughout each school day. Cleaning supplies will be in compliance with EPA requirements related to COVID-19.

Drinking Fountains

• Drinking fountains will be used per the recommendation from the local health department. Use of hands-free water bottle filling fountains will be permitted.

Visitors/Volunteers/Classroom Parties

With the COVID-19 virus, the goal is to limit exposure to the virus. With that in mind, the following procedures will be in place for the 2021-22 school year:

• Parents, guardians, and/or caregivers who need to drop off items can do so in the office vestibule entrance. Each building will provide procedures for this process. 

• If the parents, guardians, volunteers, and/or caregivers who need to enter the office may do so during the school year. If any of these individuals are not feeling well or have COVID-19 symptoms we encourage you to conduct business via phone, email, or other technology sources.

Food Service

• School lunches are free in the 2021-22 school year for ALL students through the National School Lunch Program. The District encourages students and parents to consider this health option each day.

• AWLS will offer breakfasts and lunches to students in the cafeteria and utilize physical distancing and assigned seating.

• Students are permitted to pack their lunches, but should not share their food with other students. Logistics will be determined by each building.

Transportation

• Students will ride two per assigned seat as allowable per bus route. Siblings may be assigned to sit together when applicable. 

• Weather permitting, bus windows will be open at all times in order to improve air flow.

• Each student will utilize provided hand sanitizer as they get on the bus. 

• AWLS transports AWLS, PENTA, and private school students (per state law). Coordination of these services will require additional time as a result of COVID-19 requirements and restrictions to transportation services. AWLS will provide this information as soon as possible.

• We expect that some students may choose to travel in cars, walk to school, or even ride their bikes to and from school. As you travel, please take extra precautions to ensure everyone is safe.

• If a student is positive for COVID-19, non-public schools that have a student that is on this same bus and is in close proximity as determined by the health department will be notified. If a non-public student is positive for COVID-19, the same notification is expected.

What if a student or teacher is positive or is exposed to someone that is positive for COVID-19?

Please know that the Ohio Department of Health is requiring school districts to contact trace all potential exposures of COVID-19. The Lucas County Health Department has yet to provide the specific procedural information and required steps to take when a student or staff member is positive or has come into contact with someone who is positive for COVID-19. The District does expect that it will be similar to last Spring. 

• AWLS has a nurse in each school building. 

• If a student has symptoms and/or temperature 100F or above throughout the day, they will go to the office for evaluation by the nurse. In a designated area, physical distancing will be used while the student is evaluated by the nurse. 

• Students and staff that have non-COVID-19 symptoms that require medical attention will be assigned to another location. 

• Both of these areas will be cleaned extensively each day and personal protective equipment will be utilized. 

• If a student or staff member exhibits COVID-19 symptoms or has a temperature above 100F degrees, then he or she will go home and be directed to seek advice from his or her physician and possibly referred to the Lucas County Health Department. 

• Student parents, guardians, or caregivers would be contacted to pick the child up. It will be of utmost importance that they are picked up as quickly as possible.

Communication

• Communication regarding staff or students who test positive for COVID-19 will be issued following the recommendations from the Lucas County Health Department while maintaining privacy according to FERPA and HIPAA guidelines. 

• The Health Department will be the lead investigator, will determine the actions taken to quarantine the individual that tested positive for COVID-19, complete contract tracing, and will determine actions for those who were in close proximity to the individual. AWLS will work to help the Health Department during this process.

Expectations for the County Health Departments

The Anthony Wayne Local Schools (AWLS) works with both the Lucas County and Wood County Health Department to ensure the safety of our staff and students. With this work, the District believes that we should collaboratively work together with each other to ensure this safety. With that said, we have the following expectation for the health departments:

• AWLS is notified immediately if a student and/or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. 

• As public health experts, the health department completes contact tracing for each positive COVID-19 student and/or staff member within 24 hours of the notification of the positive case.

• The health department contacts the parent, student, and/or staff member that may have been exposed to the positive COVID-19 person within 24 hours of notification of the positive case.

• The District will contact the specific health department if we are notified about a positive case and expect the health department to respond within 24 hours from the District notification.

• The District expects that all recommendations from the health department be equally administered to all K-12 schools that educate students in each county. 

COVID-19 Liaison

Lori Williams is the COVID-19 liaison for AWLS. She can be reached at (419) 877-5377 or lwilliams@anthonywayneschools.org.