Here Are the Guidelines For Reopening of K-12 Schools in Ohio -- Understand the Reality

It is July 16, 2020, and the debate over reopening schools in Ohio rages. Most schools in the state are supposed to return to operations in August. However, in the grips of the deadly COVID-19 virus, the safety of staff and students is paramount in any decision to establish a new, safer version of person-to-person learning. While everyone acknowledges that attending classes is extremely important for students, new spikes in infections pose risks to those in educational facilities across the state.

On July 2, Governor DeWine announced new guidance for resuming school in the fall. He said …

"We know that each school system, and perhaps each school building, will likely look different in the fall. We also know that Ohio has a long history of local control and that school administrators and teachers know their schools best.

"Working together and consulting with educators and other health officials, we have developed a set of guidelines, backed by science, that each school should follow when developing their reopening plans."

(“COVID-19 Update: School Guidelines, Public Health Advisory System.”

governor.ohio.gov. July 02, 2020.)

DeWine and his team worked with teachers, school staff, and medical workers experts to come up with the guidelines to reopen while keeping children across Ohio safe and providing them with a good education.

State officials are urging schools to use social distancing, vigilantly assess symptoms, provide hand sanitizer, and thoroughly clean school spaces, but the guidance leaves many details up to the districts. Each school is asked to follow the guidelines while creating their own reopening plans for the fall. DeWine said …

"So balancing local control, state interest in protecting our kids, and making sure our kids get educated.”

(Jess Mador. “Coronavirus In Ohio: DeWine Announces Guidelines For Reopening Schools.” WOSU. July 02, 2020.)

The governor also said he is working to provide funding for schools to obtain items they need to purchase to follow guidelines, such as disinfectants, sanitizers, and personal protective equipment.

The Ohio Department of Education has two documents, one focusing on education and the other focusing on health, to provide resources when planning the reopening.

Scott DiMauro, President of the Ohio Education Association, said he was pleased there is finally a statewide plan, but he said he was hoping it would contain additional state mandates for social distancing, health checks and require students in third grade and up to wear masks. DiMauro said …

“We’re a little disappointed that there aren’t more mandates in terms of what the state is requiring. The fact that local school officials still have discretion in terms of which requirements to follow and which ones don’t, other than the mask requirement, is a disappointment.

“Students third grade and above ought to be expected to wear masks, let’s not have that as a suggestion, let’s have that as a requirement so that we’re not leaving that up to local politics.”

(Camryn Justice and Joe Pagonakis. “Gov. Mike DeWine announces guidelines for K-12 schools in Ohio to reopen.” news5cleveland.com. July 02, 2020.)

DiMauro added …

“While we appreciate the consideration given to the importance of social distancing, health checks, and sanitation protocols in the governor’s plan, it lacks a means of enforcement, even when a county is in the highest tier of the alert system.”

Dr. Claudia Hoyen, Director of Infection Control at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, told News 5 parents should attempt to get their children comfortable with wearing a mask weeks before the start of the school year, and keep a close watch for COVID-19 symptoms.

So, what are exactly the Guidelines For Reopening of K-12 Schools in Ohio? This is what I could find (with the understanding that things often change depending upon circumstances and political wranglings). The guidelines include the following:

* Vigilantly assess symptoms – Students, caregivers and staff are asked to monitor their health before departing for school. Those with temperatures over 100 degrees are asked to stay home. Students and staff who develop symptoms at school will be sent home. Schools will need to work with their local health departments to trace cases and conduct testing.

* Wash and sanitize hands to prevent spread – Schools must provide time for students and staff to regularly wash hands. Hand washing and sanitation stations are to be set up around each school.

* Thoroughly clean and sanitize school environment to limit spread on shared surfaces – Schools will be required to regularly disinfect the school and high touch areas to mitigate the spread of the virus.

* Practice social distancing – Schools should strive to maintain 6-feet of distance between students and staff in classrooms, lunchrooms, school busses, and other school settings when possible to limit exposure to COVID-19. Some schools may stagger lunch and class schedules

* Implement face covering policy – Every school must develop a face-covering policy. Staff, like other business sectors that have reopened in the state, will be required to wear a mask or face covering. When face coverings are not practical, staff may opt to use face shields.

The state also strongly recommends, but is not mandating, that children in third grade or higher should wear a mask. DeWine said that schools should do everything they can to reduce the stigma for those students who are unable to wear a mask. Some schools may suggest younger students also wear masks, DeWine said.

On a national level, President Donald Trump, a fierce advocate for a full fall reopening, appeared to go to war with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose guidelines he deemed too strict. The CDC ultimately did not significantly revise its stance.

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement reading …

"Returning to school is important for the healthy development and well-being of children, but we must pursue re-opening in a way that is safe for all students, teachers and staff. Science should drive decision-making on safely reopening schools."

The Ohio public must now search its collective souls on the best course of action. Should schools reopen next month with these proposed guidelines, or should they even reopen at all at this uncertain time? Parents, teachers, students, other school personnel – all of these people are directly affected by the decision. It is a gut-wrenching commitment with real consequences. Shut down or reopen? It seems impossible we have come to this, yet the pandemic pays no mind in its deadly destruction.

The one certainty I know is that a single child needlessly killed by COVID-19 during a reopening is unforgivable. No amount of reasoning by the state concerning the need for education would excuse such a tragedy. Any risk of deadly infection in that case cannot be assumed to be the responsibility of the parents or guardians. The risk lies squarely on the district and the State of Ohio. Imagine that COVID fatality is your loved one. Who would you blame?