As we consider reopening
local schools, I believe all people should read the “Reset and
Restart Education Planning Guide for Ohio Schools and Districts” by
the Ohio Department of Education. It details the plans for opening
schools in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Access the planning guide
here: http://education.ohio.gov/getattachment/Topics/Reset-and-Restart/Reset-Restart-Guide.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US
This document is designed
to help schools and their partners understand guidelines and
considerations for reopening school buildings during the continued
presence of COVID-19 in a way that protects the health and safety of
vulnerable members of school communities. Its intention is to spur
local-level, partnership-based discussions and decision-making that
will result in locally developed Reset and Restart Education Plans.
The guide also stresses
that reopening plans should be designed to complement other community
mitigation strategies, minimize disruption to teaching and learning,
and protect students and staff from social stigma and discrimination;
therefore, ongoing collaboration and communication among community
stakeholders is critical to ensuring a meaningful year for students
in which they remain engaged in learning.
We here in Scioto County
recognize youth as our most valuable resource. Our schools are such a
vital part of life in our rural communities; however, we must vow
never to endanger children. Every young life must be protected, as
they are vulnerable to the great harm presented by the virus.
Operating Assumptions
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and Ohio Department of Health indicate that
COVID-19 will be present at the start of the 2020-2021 academic year.
Also, as has been the experience over the past several months,
conditions can change rapidly. District and school planning will need
to contemplate various contingencies. As a result, this planning
guide operates under the following assumptions:
• Ohio’s education
system must be nimble, flexible and responsive to ensure the health
and safety of all students and adults.
• Schools will need
to have the capacity to operate in various modes at different times
and, sometimes, with minimum advance notice.
• When schools are
operating with students in the building, they will need to adhere to
health and safety guidelines set forth by the Ohio Department of
Health and local health departments. Guidelines may change as
circumstances change, which most likely should lead to course
corrections throughout the year.
• The traditional
school experience as it was known prior to the onset of the pandemic
will be different, as will many of the day-to-day practices of
schools.
The Reset and Restart
Guide
The guide presents what it
calls “A Student’s Daily Journey” to emphasize the routine of
students. To best understand the various health and safety needs of
our students, it asks us to “walk in a pair of one student’s
shoes” and journey through a typical day. Here is that journey …
“This includes waking
up in the morning, riding on a school bus to the physical school
building, waiting to enter the building, entering the building,
waiting inside the building in designated areas, attending adult
supervised care visiting lockers, getting to class, taking into
account any and all movement throughout the day (changing classes,
using the restroom, lunch/cafeteria [breakfast and lunch],
gym/physical education, recess, etc.), leaving school and returning
home.
(“Reset and Restart
Education Planning Guide for Ohio Schools and Districts.” Ohio
Department of Education. 2020.))
Although our understanding
of COVID-19 continues to evolve, one thing that has remained constant
is that using multiple layers of protection to protect against
catching the virus is key. On June 27, the Lancet, a renowned
medical journal, published a systematic review and metaanalysis of
available medical information related the effectiveness of physical
distancing, face masks and eye protection to prevent person-toperson
spread of the virus.
The review confirmed that
these nonpharmaceutical or non-medicine-based interventions play a
key role in limiting transmission of the virus:
• Physical or social
distancing
• Face mask
• Eye protection
• Good hand hygiene
The Lancet review
concluded alone, each of these things offer some protection. However,
as they are layered together, they provide an increasingly stronger
barrier of defense against the virus.
(Derek K Chu, MD, Prof
Elie A Akl, MD, Stephanie Duda, MSc, Karla Solo, Msc, Sally Yaacoub,
MPH, Prof Holger J Schünemann, MD, et al. “Physical distancing,
face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person
transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: a systematic review and
meta-analysis.” The Lancet. June 01, 2020.)
Is it feasible that
schools in our area should even consider face-to-face reopening
during COVID-19 spikes? The degree to which schools comply with
effective strategies to reduce infection is paramount to any
consideration of reopening Scioto County schools.
The Ohio School Boards
Association has a page dedicated to the reopening of our schools
titled “OHIO SCHOOL DISTRICT RESTART PLANS.” You can keep abreast
of developments there. Click here: https://www.ohioschoolboards.org/ohio-school-district-restart-plans
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