Oakwood Schools COVID-19 Plans

As we prepare for the start of the school year, we are making many decisions we believe will be best for our students, families, staff and community.  

Throughout the summer, we have continued to watch, learn from and interpret recommendations and guidelines from local, county, state and federal agencies regarding the best protections for our students, staff, families and community against COVID-19.  As the Ohio Department of Health stated this week, “While strides have been made in controlling the spread of COVID-19, the virus remains a health threat.”

The last week brought new insight and recommendations on how to best protect everyone when we return to full-time, in-person, five days a week learning later this month.  

Our District was effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 last year and keeping our students safe.  We believe, once again, using layered protective strategies will provide the most protection and allow our students the opportunity to return to in person learning and stay there as long as possible.

**As always, the District will continue to monitor guidance, regulations, recommendations, and mandates from PHDMC, Ohio Health Department and Center for Disease Control for future information and possible changes to the following statements.

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.
  • Handwashing 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.

Quarantine Protocol

Vaccines, consistent and correct mask use and distancing are still 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.  

The current quarantine guidelines from PHDMC state students or staff who are exposed to a person with COVID-19 in a classroom setting do not need to quarantine if:

• All parties were consistently and correctly wearing masks
• All parties were spaced at least three feet apart. 

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.

Quarantine will be required if:

• Individual is not fully vaccinated
• Masks were not consistently and correctly worn 
• Parties were less than three feet apart

If “close contact” exposure occurred in the classroom, parties will be required to quarantine for 10 days.  If “close contact” exposure occurs with a person living in your home or while participating in sports or other extra curricular activities, a 14-day quarantine is required.

We hope this information is helpful so you may plan for the start of school and make the decisions you have to make for yourself and your family.  Please be respectful and mindful of the comfort levels of others with masks, spacing, handshaking, hugging, etc. 

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.

Please look for detailed information on back-to-school plans to come directly from building principals in the upcoming weeks. 

Kyle Ramey
Superintendent