CLEVELAND — The coronavirus pandemic has forced students out of schools in Ohio since March 16. Governor Mike DeWine said they won’t be going back inside classrooms the rest of this academic school year, but he has not made a decision regarding the fall semester.
However, Ohio officials have provided a plan that gives us a better idea of what school will look like when kids do return.
The plan was written by Ohio Department of Education staff. It’s a framework and a draft for schools to follow.
“This is a tool for educators to prompt and inform thoughtful local conversations and plans for resetting and restarting school. It has been developed with input from educators and educator-related organizations, parents and students,” according to the 12-page draft.
It goes on to say it’s not a requirement for any school district.
Here are some of the recommended measures:
- Require students and personnel to take their own temperature before reporting to school and to stay home if above 100F or if experiencing other symptoms.
- Maintain physical distancing of 6 feet among everyone in the school and while on school transportation, this means that some schools may have to implement staggered schedules.
- Require face masks for all students and staff. School nurses caring for anyone exhibiting symptoms should wear PPE.
- Make hand sanitizer and other cleaning products readily available to students, including the possibility of sanitation stations.
- Frequent cleaning and sanitizing high-touch areas like door handles, counters, desks, tables, chairs.
- Should students or employees show symptoms of COVID-19, there should be a quarantine room for them.
- No visitors allowed or very limited.
The plan is still, just that, a plan. Governor DeWine and the Ohio Board of Education have not signed off on it.
If you’d like to read the full draft: click here.
