Smaller schools make different plans for year

Posted
While Perry County School District is taking several special precautions, other districts have chosen different paths. St. Vincent schools released highlights to its plan last Friday, which high school principal and interim head of schools Jennifer Streiler said answered two major questions parents had raised as the school year neared. “A lot of parents were anxious to know if we were going to go five days per week and if masks were required,” Streiler said. “Those were the big pieces. But we are still tweaking the full plan before we officially present it to our school board.” Those highlights include students will be in attendance 5 days per week, health screenings will be done at home with spot checks at school. Masks will be worn as the students are in transition, which includes as they enter and exit the building and move from class to class. Sports will be conducted according to the Missouri State High School Association guidelines, and water fountains are closed with exception to bottle filling stations. Cleaning will be done according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines by custodians after training. “We have received positive feedback from parents who are a little anxious,” Streiler said. “We sympathize with those schools who can’t go five days per week, but we feel that with our school size that we can manage it. Although it will take constant monitoring of the bathrooms, cafeteria and places like that. The number one goal is to have our kids here as much as possible.” The full plan will be unveiled closer to the first day of school on Aug. 18. Saxony Lutheran High School went a similar route with their plan as the will also be having in-person learning five days per week. “It is our intent to be in school every day and hopefully we will be able to do that,” Saxony Principal Mark Ruark said. “We consulted with medical and health officials to make the best possible decision for our staff and students.” Social distancing will be in effect in the classroom with desks and students are urged to wear masks when participating in-group projects and in chapel and when social distancing is not possible, such as in between classes. Students are encouraged to wash their hands as much as possible, but especially during lunch time. Students may bring water bottles from home instead of using the drinking fountain. Immanuel Lutheran in Perryville will be going five days per week, but some precautions will be taken during the school day. “Many hours were put into research, discussion, and viewing other plans,” Immanuel Lutheran principal Andy Spieler said in a release. “This plan is a living document that the school board and I will be reevaluating and making changes as much as possible.” By observing social distancing, students and teachers are not mandated to wear masks in the classroom, but they are requiring to have Kindergarten students and older to come to school with a mask when entering the facility. Masks will also be required when a student is not in the classroom or in their homeroom setting. Masks will be required at dismissal time and during Morning care and After Care. In order to maintain as much social distancing as possible, all parents picking up or dropping off students will be asked to remain in their vehicles for drop-off and pick-up. If students arrive late, they should be brought to the front office. Classrooms will be cleaned thoroughly each day after school. Upon arrival to school, students will use hand sanitizer before entering the room. Desks will be cleaned multiple times during the day. Classrooms will be kept self-contained as much as possible. Students will remain in their classroom for all instruction except PE and Music and computers. After each class the teacher will be responsible for cleaning the classroom and any used materials. That will also include lunch which the students will eat in their classrooms and wipe down desks before and after eating. Parents are encouraged to check their child’s temperature before coming to school. If it is above 100.4 degrees, they are to stay home. United in Christ Lutheran in Frohna will have its students remain in the classroom for much of the day except for lunch, restroom breaks, recess, and lunch. If students are in small groups, masks should be worn. Desks will be properly spaced and students will be taught proper hand-washing techniques. For lunch students will eat in the cafeteria with their class and will distance with one seat in between each student. Tables and chairs will be disinfected after each use. Upon arrival students will have temperature checks and parents will wait until the student passes with a temperature below 100.4 degrees. At dismissal time, students will remain in classrooms. Adults stationed at each door will call out student names. Students will walk down halls on opposite sides in order to distance. These checks will also be happening at Altenburg Public School as students will be checked before entering the building. Students are to keep two masks at school to be used when waiting for parents at dismissal and when showing symptoms. Teachers will wear masks when in close proximity to students. Hand sanitizer will be placed at the school entrance and in each classroom to be used. To prevent spread water fountains will not be used. Students are allowed to bring water bottles. Classrooms will have desks properly distanced and students are urged not to share pencils and other items. At lunch, they are to sit with their class to mitigate spread and lunch times will be staggered to reduce the chance of large gatherings. Regular cleaning will be done within the classroom. Door knobs and railings within the school.