BOE revamps school reopening plans

Several attempt were made by Houston Home Journal to receive direct feedback from HCBOE officials regarding concerns that parents and educators had sent directly to HHJ and others that had been posted on social media sites, but responses to those questions had not been received by the agreed upon 12 noon deadline on press day. However, general public updates were made on the board’s official website on Thursday evening.

Houston County Schools are set to reopen on August 6, and due to COVID-19, the site shared that two options will be available, with option 1 being students returning to campus with enhanced health and safety protocols and option 2 being distance learning, wherein Houston Virtual will deliver online courses to students.

Parents interested in having their student use Houston Virtual must adhere to the following:

•Commit to distance learning for the minimum of a grading period, which is nine weeks for elementary students and 18 weeks for middle and high school students;

•Have a device that will connect to the internet, along with internet access at home.

•During the Houston Virtual registration, parents may indicate the need for a device or internet, and the district will try to assist with this need.

•Be available for instruction during normal school hours.

•Log-in and participate in the class to be counted as present for the day.

•Take state-mandated standardized tests.

•Be enrolled in the district.

In addition, students in Houston Virtual distance learning will have limited options for specials, connections and electives. They will not participate in school activities or extracurricular activities.

In other matters of interest, the following information under the topic of “Guiding Principles for Decision Making” was outlined:

•Social distancing will be expected.

•Regular hand washing will be part of the daily routine.

•Staff members and students should wear a face covering in all areas of the school campus where social distancing requirements cannot be achieved or maintained. Examples include areas such as on school buses, at bus stops, during hallway transactions or at drop-off/pick-up.

•Visitors will wear a face covering while on campus.

•Elementary students will form cohorts by class, with limited interaction with other classes.

•All school buildings and buses will be cleaned and sanitized.

•Daily pre-screening is required of staff members and by parents of students prior to arriving at school.

•Sick employees and students will be required to remain at home.

•Large gatherings are suspended at this time.

“Practicing Prevention” include:

•A classroom seating chart will be established for all classes, including connections, specials and electives.

•Desks will face the same direction.

•Teachers will remove non –essential furniture to maximize space between desks.

•Classroom will be provided necessary cleaning and sanitizing supplies.

•Custodian will be given a school specific disinfection routine and schedule.

•Books returned to the Media Center will sit for 24 hours after they are returned.

•Programmable sinks in all schools will be reprogrammed to run for at least 30 seconds.

•Students will be taught correct hand washing procedures.

•Students will be encouraged to practice frequent hand washing.

•Each classroom in the district will be provided with hand sanitizer.

•Students are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer.

•Staff members and students should wear a face covering in all areas of the school campus where physical distancing requirements cannot be achieved or maintained.

•Signage will be posted to encourage preventive practices.

•Students will not share disposable items, such as glue, scissors, markers, crayons, colored pencils, unless properly cleaned between uses or left for 24 hours.

•Shared items, such as textbooks, keyboards, mouse, and science lab equipment, will be sanitized between groups.

•The water supply to water fountains will be cut off, and bottled water will be available.

•Events resulting in students congregating are suspended.

•Recess and lunch times will be staggered to implement social distancing.

The web information stipulates that students and staff members are required to wear face coverings while on the school buses, and bus riders will have assigned seats. Bus riders will only be able to ride their assigned bus, and each bus will have necessary PPE items onboard in addition to drivers and monitors being responsible to clean and sanitize the vehicles on a regular basis.

Where meal service is concerned, students will be required to wash hands before being served. Meals will be served using a “grab and go” service style using disposable containers and utensils. Students will be able to consume meals in alternate places such as classrooms and outdoors. Those that eat in the cafeteria will be required to social distance.

When it comes to extra-curricular activities and athletics, strict cleaning procedures and guidelines will be followed for athletic venues, sports equipment, locker rooms and restrooms and use of face coverings will be based on current district procedures. Social distancing guidelines will be encouraged in all athletic facilities and performing arts centers, only approved trips will be permitted and clubs and other non-competitive activities are suspended at this time.

Should a child or staff member become sick at school, each school will identify an area wherein anyone exhibiting COVID-like symptoms can be kept separate from other individuals, and med techs and school nurses will use Standard and Transmission-Based Precautions when caring for anyone presenting with symptoms of illness. Employees who present with symptoms of illness will be sent home and advised not to return until they have met DPH criteria to discontinue home isolation. Anyone who has had exposure to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 will be notified and required to follow DPH guidance.

Student Illness Screening Protocol requires that when any student exhibiting behavior that could produce airborne droplets (coughing, sneezing, clearing throat), the Health Clinic will place a procedural face covering on the student. Their temperature will be taken, and the student presenting any of the below symptoms of illness should go home immediately until symptoms resolve and they are fever free for 72 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.

•Fever of 100 degrees or higher

•Shortness of breath

•Chills/repeated shaking with chills

•Vomiting

•Muscle Pain

•Difficulty breathing

•New loss of taste or smell

•Diarrhea

•Rash/red eyes, cracked/swollen lips or tongue, swelling of hands/feet, stomach pain

The full updates regarding reopening for the 2020-2021 school year can be found on the school board’s official website at www.hcbe.net.

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