While the main goal for the 2020-2021 school year is to open as normal, the coronavirus pandemic has forced school leaders to consider alternate options in the event that schools cannot open safely under normal conditions.
Last week we held a member-wide Zoom meeting where we discussed the new guidelines put forth by the Center for Disease Control. The CDC detailed how schools can operate to ensure that students, teachers, staff, and administrators remain safe. The comprehensive document states that the guidelines are offered in collaboration with state and local health officials and are to be utilized when feasible.
Some of the broad points garnered from this document are as follows:
- Face coverings should be worn by staff and encouraged for students.
- Desks should be 6 feet apart and facing in one direction.
- Students should stay with the same staff member all day and limit mixing between groups.
- Physical barriers and sneeze guards should be installed between sinks and where social distancing is difficult.
- Communal used spaces such as cafeterias and playgrounds should be closed.
- Meals should be consumed in the classroom.
- Students should not share items or disinfect shared items between uses.
- Stagger drop-off times as much as possible.
- Create distance between students on buses such as putting one child per seat and skipping rows.
- Conduct daily health checks such as temperature screening.
- Offer options for high risk staff and students, such as telework and virtual learning.
School districts will be working with the guidance of the PA Department of Education and the PA Department of Health to implement a measure that will work best for their specific location and student population.
For your reference, here is the direct link to the CDC guidelines and their flow chart tool.
We encourage any member with questions regarding the CDC guidelines, your school’s reopening plan, or health concerns to contact us directly at 717-763-1168 or info@keyta.org.
