MANSFIELD — After weeks of discussion on what the start of school will look like, the superintendents of Richland County’s 11 school districts and the county’s two health departments have issued a document outlining best practices for K-12 education.
“Richland County Schools COVID-19 Reopening Guidance” includes a list of “common practices,” developed by local superintendents in collaboration with the Richland County Public Health and the Shelby City Health Department. Guidance from Gov. Mike DeWine’s office, the Ohio Department of Education, the CDC and the Ohio Department of Health were all taken into consideration.
Richland Public Health Commissioner Sarah Humphrey said the plan was developed with the intent of providing the most effective learning environment for students while maintaining the health and safety of students, staff, and families.
The plan gives recommendations regarding various aspects of K-12 education, including classrooms, bus transportation, lunch, recess and fine arts classes. It also addresses cleaning and disinfection and how schools should respond if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19.
If a student or teacher tests positive, that individual would be required to be isolated and would need clearance from a Richland Public Health nurse to return to school.
If a student’s parent, caregiver or sibling that lives with them tests positive, students will be considered a direct contact and be required to quarantine for 14 days. If the student does not develop symptoms after 14 days, they may return to school. The same rules apply for a teacher whose spouse tests positive.
Richland Public Health will conduct contact tracing when a student, teacher or staff member tests positive. RPH will also work with school nurses on proper notification for families.
“We foresee this being similar to the head lice letters used to let parents know they should pay extra attention to their child and check their child daily when someone in the class has head lice,” the plan reads.
While the plan outlines recommendations, reopening plans will vary slightly from district to district.
“The learning environment during this COVID-19 pandemic will require flexibility, and understanding by the entire community as it may continue to evolve,” Humphrey said. “School and public health professionals have built a strong, collaborative relationship and will continue to work together to meet the needs of students as the school year progresses, regardless of the format.”
Kevin Kimmel, superintendent of the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center, said the greatest area of variance is how schools will operate under a level three health warning.
According to a letter from Lexington Supt. Jeremy Secrist on the district’s Facebook page, the district’s response to a level three status is “still a matter of discussion” and will likely depend on the extent of community spread in the area.
“We may be in-person with face coverings mandatory in all situations and areas, or fully on-line, dependent upon the current situation within our school community,” Secrist wrote. “For example, if we have been in school successfully for several weeks with no spread within our own community and/or school, and a red level for the county is triggered by an outbreak that we are not seeing in our school/community, we may elect to continue to offer in-person learning with face coverings mandatory as required by the level.
“However, if our own community is experiencing spread, we may elect to be online.”
Ontario Local Schools will remain open but require all students to wear face masks at level three. Mansfield City Schools and Galion will adopt a hybrid model, with students attending face-to-face classes two days a week.
The Clear Fork Valley Local School District has not approved a final COVID-19 plan, but the plan being presented at the July 30 school board meeting would have students in grades 3-12 doing online remote learning from home while the county is at level three.
“(The) administration is still refining our plan weekly,” said Clear Fork Supt. Janice Wyckoff.
If Richland County is designated purple (level 4), all districts will close school and implement remote learning.
You can read the full reopening guidance document by clicking below.
