Oakwood Schools COVID-19 Plans

(As of Aug. 1, 2021)

Adult-Student Interactions & Student-Student Interactions

• At Smith, Harman & Lange:
  • Due to the unavailability of vaccines for this age group, students and staff will be required to wear masks in school buildings and school vehicles.
  • Individuals taking part in outside activities and events are not required to wear masks as long as social distancing is maintained as much as possible.
  • Six weeks after the availability of vaccines for children under 12 years of age, mask wearing will be highly recommended, but not required.
  • We know there may be students, families and/or staff who believe it is in their best interest to continue to wear a mask after it is no longer required.  Mask wearing will be acceptable and supported.  
  • It is up to each of us to manage this decision for ourselves and our families as well as the consequences and benefits of those choices.  
     
• At JH & HS:
  • Due to the availability of vaccines for this age group, mask wearing will be highly recommended, but not required, in school buildings.
  • We know there may be students, families and/or staff who believe it is in their best interest to wear a mask.  Mask wearing will be acceptable and supported. 
  • It is up to each of us to manage this decision for ourselves and our families as well as  the consequences and benefits of those choices.  
     
• In School Vehicles:
  • Students of all ages and all staff members will be required to wear masks while being transported in school vehicles as required by federal order.
     
• During extracurricular activities:
  • District will continue to follow OHSAA guidelines and will implement future decisions as necessary.
  • Clubs and co-curricular activities will follow each building’s and/or advisor’s guidance.

Adult-Adult Interactions

• Adults interacting with other adults on school premises are highly encouraged, but not required, to wear masks.
• If in the presence of students required by the District to wear masks, adults will be required to wear masks while in buildings and school vehicles.

Layers of Protection

• Cleaning
  • Our service staff has elevated the level of cleaning and disinfecting throughout our District facilities during the last 17 months per best practices and guidance from the CDC.  We believe those cleaning regiments from our custodians meet and exceed expectations of surface cleaning and sanitation.  Additional cleaning and sanitation will be conducted as needed.
• Social distancing
  • District will work to maximize social distance with the goal of maintaining at least three feet of social distance wherever possible.
• Additional layers of protection
  • District will continue to utilize air purifiers in classrooms and offices.
  • Hand washing and proper cough/sneeze etiquette will be reinforced.
  • Students and staff are strongly encouraged to stay home when feeling ill.
  • Water bottle filling stations will remain the sole source of drinking water for students and staff.  Drinking fountains will remain inoperable.
  • Volunteer and visitor access will continue to be restricted.

The District will continue to monitor guidance, regulations, recommendations and mandates from PHDMC, Ohio Department of Health, and Centers for Disease Control for future guidance and possible changes to the above procedures.

In Classroom Settings

(As of Aug. 10, 2021)

Vaccines, consistent and correct mask use and distancing are factors that will be considered in mandated contact tracing and required quarantines/isolations.  Mandatory quarantines were the single biggest disrupter to our students’ attendance and participation in activities last school year.  

According to the Ohio Department of Health's 2021 Guidelines for Quarantine After Exposure in K-12 Classroom Setting, "COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness; while some infections are expected to occur in fully vaccinated people, these breakthrough infections are typically mild. To help prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 and keep students in school, everyone should follow recommended prevention measures after possible exposure to COVID-19."

The current quarantine guidelines from PHDMC and ODH regarding exposure within a classroom setting state students and/or staff who are exposed to a person with COVID-19 in a classroom setting do not need to quarantine if ALL of the following preventive measures have been in place:

• All parties were consistently and correctly wearing masks
• Physical distancing is maximized (at least three feet between individuals) 
• Documented COVID-19 prevention policies are in place

Fully vaccinated individuals (two weeks or more following receipt of the second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks more following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine) with exposure to someone with COVID-19 are not required to quarantine as long as they remain asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure.  Proof of vaccination will be required, if asked, as part of contact tracing.  

Fully vaccinated individuals who have been exposed should adhere to the following precautions:

• Wear a mask indoors, as much as possible for 14 days or until receiving a negative PCR  or antigen test results three to five days after exposure
• Self monitor for symptoms for 14 days

Quarantine is not necessary for students and staff who are not fully vaccinated if the person who was exposed was:

• Wearing a mask consistently and correctly AND
• Physical distancing was maintained

Individuals who were exposed but not required to quarantine should:

• Wear a mask indoors, as much as possible for 14 days or until receiving a negative PCR test results three to five days after exposure
• Self monitor for symptoms for 14 days

Quarantines will be required for students and staff who are exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID if they are NOT fully vaccinated and layers of prevention as listed above were not in place.

The quarantine period will be 10 days.  During the quarantine period, students and staff will not attend school or participate in sports or extracurricular activities.  They can return to school and sports/extracurricular activities after seven days if they receive a negative viral (PCR or antigen) test that was performed at least five days after exposure.

If they test positive, they will be required to isolate for at least 10 days from the date of the positive test. 

The District will continue to monitor guidance, regulations, recommendations and mandates from PHDMC, Ohio Department of Health, and Centers for Disease Control for future guidance and possible changes to the above procedures.