AUGLAIZE COUNTY SCHOOLS COMMON RE-OPENING AGREEMENT

PREFACE: School district superintendents from each public school district in Auglaize County, along with the Auglaize County Educational Service Center, the Apollo Career Center, Tri-Star Career Center, and the Auglaize County Department of Health, came together to draft common practices for school re-opening in Auglaize County.

These principles will be common to all Auglaize County public school districts and have been approved by the Auglaize County Department of Health:

1. Each school district will implement recommended safety protocols to the highest degree possible.
2. Each school district will work closely with the Auglaize County Department of Health to promote safety in each school building.
3. Each school district will be transparent with all stakeholders that some level of risk will always be present when students and school district employees occupy school district facilities.
4. School districts recognize the need for consistency in areas of operations, while recognizing that individual differences in classroom sizes, school facilities, and building operations may lead to some inconsistencies.
5. School districts will strongly encourage daily symptom checks for staff and students.  Ill staff and students who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 will stay home, and will be strongly encouraged to be tested through his or her family physician or the local hospital.

Communications when a student/staff member is diagnosed with COVID-19 or has symptoms consistent with COVID-19

Communication will be developed by the Auglaize County Department of Health, outlining the following actions to be taken.  A common template will be developed to include the following:

• What information can be shared with parents and staff about how/where exposure to a person with COVID-19 may have occurred.
• The communication will explain/define what is considered close contact to someone with COVID-19 that will result in quarantine.
• Any student or employee diagnosed may not return until cleared by the Auglaize County Health Dept.
• Anyone sent home will not return to school until they are fever free for 72 hours (three full days) without medication AND improvement of all other symptoms for 72 hours AND at least ten days have passed since symptoms started.  
• If the student or employee is positive with COVID-19 but has no symptoms, they will stay at home until 10 days have passed since their positive test.
• To return to school the child must be transported by a parent and must be checked by school personnel.
• A 14 day quarantine will be required for anyone who is determined to have “close contact” to someone who has COVID-19. “Close contact” is determined by the Health Department.

Note: Schools will develop their own policies and procedures to support the above steps that will be taken.

Student and staff health issues that are NOT diagnosed as COVID-19

• Districts will follow their usual procedures for student and staff medical issues/illnesses.
• Students or employees with a fever of 100 degrees or higher will be sent home.  They may not return until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
• If the individual has had contact with someone confirmed or probable to have COVID-19, he or she must complete quarantine procedures.

Food Service

All districts will offer food service.  Logistics will be determined by each district in compliance with the Auglaize County Department of Health.  Recommendations include but are not limited to:

• Limited number of students per table.
• Tables spaced as far apart as possible.
• Alternative locations for lunch might be determined by individual school districts for particular grades.
• No self-service
• Individual condiments
• Student should wash or sanitize hands prior to eating.
• Cohorting or assigned seating will be strongly encouraged.

Classroom Occupancy

• Districts will inform parents that safety protocols are in place, but any student who attends school will incur some level of risk.  Districts will decrease the likelihood of infection with hygiene, cleaning, and safety procedures, but being in a public place has a certain level of risk that cannot be eliminated.
• Classroom occupancy will be determined based on each individual circumstance with the maximum amount of safety considerations possible.
• Face coverings are strongly recommended for all students grades 3 and above.
• School employees are required to use a face covering with exceptions when it significantly interferes with instruction.
• Students will be spaced apart when possible.

Remote Learning

• School districts may offer remote learning for parents who do not wish to send their child to school.
• Parents may choose from the following two options:

1. Send their child to school (assume some level of risk), or
2. Agree to work with the district to determine an alternative learning environment and the duration of time.

• School districts will determine when and how often a student may switch from a traditional classroom to online and back. (example: nine weeks or semester)
• School districts will determine what an online education system will encompass.
• If there is an increase of spread in a district and there is a need to return to remote learning, each district will have a plan in place.  This plan will vary by district, but will involve online lessons, grading policies, and accountability to complete work on daily/weekly basis.

Visitors/Volunteers/Parties

There are different levels of school visitors; therefore, each district will make decisions based on their particular situations.  However, the following guidelines are recommended:

• Visitors are generally discouraged from being in school district facilities.
• Safety protocols, such as taking temperatures, requiring face coverings, washing or sanitizing hands upon arrival may be implemented for all visitors.
• If there are volunteers in the building they should be assigned a consistent work area
• If food is provided for students it should be pre-packaged.

Transportation

• Auglaize County School Districts will allow two students per seat and in some instances three students if the children are younger and therefore smaller.
• Districts will attempt to sit siblings together.
• Assigned seats/seating charts are recommended to assist with contact tracing if that is needed.
• Face masks are required for drivers and strongly recommended for students.
• Windows may be open to allow for fresh air ventilation.
• Districts will establish cleaning and sanitizing protocols for buses including frequently touched surfaces.
• In the event State policies require school districts to use alternative schedules, districts may adopt minimum requirements for transportation to reduce the number of students who are eligible for school district transportation.

Recess/Outdoor activities

• School districts will make every effort to maintain consistency with other safety procedures.
• Students may be limited from certain pieces of playground equipment.
• Students must sanitize/wash their hands before after recess.         

Roles and Responsibilities

Parents

• Monitor your child’s health each morning and afternoon.  Please take your child’s temperature in the morning before sending them to school.  Students with a temperature of 100 or more will remain home.  
• Make sure that you establish best practice health routines at home for your child to include regular handwashing, daily bathing, using hand sanitizer routinely, and keeping cloths clean.  We will be reinforcing these things at school as well.
• Inform the school administration if your child has Covid-19 symptoms and is running a high fever.  We will recommend actions to be taken.
• If possible provide hand sanitizer for your child to carry with them at school.

Students

• Check your body temperature each day.  A temperature of 100 or higher means that you will stay home.
• Wash your hands thoroughly throughout the day and use hand sanitizer when hand-washing is not possible.
• Remember to bring your mask with you if you do desire to wear one.  Always wear a clean mask.
• Make a conscious effort to not touch your face and social distancing whenever possible.

Useful Links:

https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/home

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Student-Supports/Coronavirus

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html