Cameron County School District has released its plan for school in the fall, and social distancing seems to be a key factor.
While mask wearing is not mentioned in the reopening plan, the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education issued an order on July 1 that states students and staff in all Pennsylvania schools will be required to wear facial coverings during the school year. The order states, “For the safety of students, staff and families, and to avoid community spread of COVID-19, students and staff are considered to be members of the public who are congregating in indoor locations.”
In regard to Cameron County’s plan, the first day of school will be Aug. 26, 2020, and the plan states that the district is preparing for a “complete re-open for students, with some students and families opting for distance learning” due to safety/health concerns.
A Return to School Work Team was created to organize this effort, and the plan has been viewed by parents and school district members and approved by the school board.
The plan will be promoted through information mailed to parents and meetings and will be included in program handbooks distributed to parents.
Virtual education or the distribution of packets will be used for yellow or red status for the county or in the event a classroom is found to have significant illness among the students who attend class there.
In terms of social distancing efforts, plans are in place to adjust classrooms to provide more space. Materials that are not needed on a daily basis will be removed from the classroom and stored elsewhere, provided on a rotating basis so students continue to have unique experiences, according to the plan. Desks will face in the same direction and social distancing of students will be implemented.
Arrival, dismissal and the use of hallways and bathrooms will be staggered, as will the use of playground equipment and gym time. Students will be required to wash their hands before and after use of the gym and/or playground.
Students will be provided pre-packaged foods and boxed lunches. The cafeteria may be used if social distancing protocols can be implemented. Desks and tables will be sanitized both before and after eating. Large group instruction rooms may also be utilized during meals to minimize the number of students in one area and allow for more seating for meal times.
The plan also states that sharing food and utensils will be prohibited, and the students will be provided with individual materials for activities whenever possible.
The plan also states that, whenever possible, students will be placed in “stagnant groups,” minimizing contact with other individuals throughout the day.
The district will not be allowing visitors or volunteers.
For students riding the bus, the district will be looking at the bus schedules and attempting to maximize social distancing efforts.
In the event of a return to yellow status, students will be divided into two or three groups and will receive “face-to-face instruction one to two days a week with online or instructional packets occurring during the other days of the week.”
Students will be taught the proper way to wash hands and sneeze and cough, and frequent hand washing breaks will be scheduled throughout the school day, according to the district’s reopening plan.
