Safe Return to In-Person Instruction - Board of Education Meeting August 9, 2021 - Dublin City Schools

Safe Return to
In-Person Instruction
         Board of Education Meeting
                     August 9, 2021

ODH Fact Sheet
The Ohio Department of Health is :
• recommending vaccination for those who are eligible;
• strongly recommending use of face masks in K-12
  settings, particularly for those who are not fully
  vaccinated;
• maximizing distance between people;
• prompt identification and providing appropriate care for
  people exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19;
• practicing good hygiene; and routine environmental
  cleaning and disinfection.
                                                    August 5, 2021

One Goal
 Keep Kids Safely In School

Two Ways to Reach Goal
1. Mask Mandate                   2. Educate and Engage
  Make masks mandatory for all      Continue to share pertinent health
                                    information with community
  students and staff without an
  order from health officials       Apply new ODH Guidance to
                                    encourage masking to avoid
                                    quarantine

Face Coverings and
      Masks
●   In alignment with health agencies, the Dublin
    City School District is strongly
    recommending students and staff wear
    mask while indoors.
●   Masks provide a layer of protection that
    keep students safe and out of quarantine.
●   Parents will be contacted to assist with your
    mask desire for each child.

Quarantine
●   The Ohio Department of Health issued new
    quarantine guidance on Thursday.

●   Currently, vaccinated individuals are not
    subject to quarantine. Close contacts will be
    given the opportunity to produce proof of
    vaccination and may need to wear masks.
●   Students wearing masks to school will be
    subject to modified quarantine procedures.

●   The district will provide free rapid test kits to
    reduce quarantine time with a negative test.

Guidelines for
Quarantine
After Exposure in
K-12 Classroom
Settings

*This flowchart applies only to
COVID-19 exposures that
occurred within a
K-12 classroom setting. It is not
applicable to exposure in the
community,
extracurricular, or sports
environment.

**If masking has not been
implemented, local health
departments (LHDs)
may use this workflow if it can be
established that the person WITH
COVID-19 and individuals within
3 to 6 feet of the infected person
were consistently and correctly
wearing masks.

Wearing Masks Keep us Safe and In School
If not all prevention measures listed above were in place, quarantine is not necessary for students
and adults who are not fully vaccinated if the person who was exposed was wearing a face mask
consistently and correctly and physical distancing was maintained. However, they should take the
following precautions:
• Wear a mask indoors, as much as possible, either for 14 days or until a viral (PCR or antigen)
  test performed at least five days after exposure has come back as negative. While this negative
  result would allow them to discontinue masking in school after day seven, we encourage them to
  continue masking.
• Self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days following exposure; unless symptoms develop, individuals
  can continue attending in-person class and participating in sports and extra-curricular activities.
• Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate away from others and be evaluated for
  COVID-19. Testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) may be recommended in
  coordination with the local health department, school, healthcare provider, or parents/guardians.
• If they test positive, they should isolate for at least 10 days from the date symptoms started (or
  the date of the positive test if they have no symptoms).

Vaccinations
●   Dublin City School District is among the
    highest vaccination rates in Franklin County.

●   In alignment with public health, we strongly
    recommend eligible students and staff get
    vaccinated.

●   Proof of vaccination will not be required for
    students or staff to attend school or work.

Busses
●   Unlike the mask recommendation, there is a
    federal requirement for mass transit. Students
    and staff must wear masks on busses
    regardless of vaccination status.

●   Difference between the mask
    recommendations and federal required mask
    use.

Additional Mitigation
Efforts
● Classrooms and learning space will include social
  distancing to the greatest extent possible.
● K-6 students will be in cohorts to the greatest extent
  possible – especially lunch.
● Additional space at lunch with space available in high
  school gymnasiums.
● All district air filters have a MERV rating of 13 or higher.

● Handwashing and hand sanitizers will be emphasized.
● Daily enhanced cleaning will continue.

Monitoring & Adjusting
●   The district will continue to monitor key data
    points throughout the school year, including
    but not limited to:
    ■ Positive cases

    ■ Quarantined students

    ■ Absentee percentages

    ■ Community spread

●   We will continue to engage FCPH, the
    Superintendent’s Medical Advisory Committee,
    partners at The Ohio State University, and
    other professionals with pertinent information.

Changes in the Plan
●   Any changes in our plan will be communicated
    immediately to our parents with notification
    through School Messenger, Social Media, and
    our website.

●   Change in health orders will be implemented
    immediately.
●   We will need to adapt and adjust to changing
    conditions and data.

Mask Exceptions Under Policy and Law
                            If Masks are Mandated

Exemption: Individual health reasons           Exemption: Individual is communicating with
                                               students who are hearing impaired or
Exemption: The individual works alone in an    otherwise disabled, where an accommodation
assigned work area
                                               is appropriate or necessary
Exemption: Settings where masks might          Exemption: Individual is seated and actively
present a safety hazard (i.e. science labs)    consuming food or beverage
Exemption: Individual has difficulty wearing   Exemption: An established sincerely held
a face covering                                religious requirement exists that does not
                                               permit facial coverings

Uniting a Divided Community

Coming Together
●   Not everyone will be satisfied with this
    announcement.

●   All protocols are temporary – this may
    change again before next Wednesday

●   We trust our parents to make an informed
    decision for their family.
●   Three main recommendations for all families:

     ■ Mask unvaccinated individuals

     ■ Get vaccinated if eligible

     ■ Follow mitigations protocols as provided by
       the district