The St. Marys Area School District has a plan for re-opening for the fall, and that plan includes a Face Covering Waiver form.
The district approved its plan and made it available to the public Aug. 10. Public comment is being accepted throughout the month of August, with opportunities to do so via Zoom meeting, which can be accessed through a link provided on the district website. This is in consideration of Gov. Tom Wolf’s current restrictions on public attendance of the board meetings. School district residents are reminded that comments are restricted to three minutes per person or a total of 30 minutes of commentary. For a group who wishes to discuss the same topic, the board requests a spokesman be chosen. Also, the announcement of this method of commentary on the district website includes the reminder “The School Board does not have the authority to overrule orders from the Governor or Department of Health nor can we ignore the standard of care set by the CDC, DOH and PDE.”
The SMASD website also offers a popup notification that states, “The face covering order applies to all students, staff and visitors age two and older while in school entities, including public K-12 schools, brick and mortar and cyber charter schools, private and parochial schools, career and technical centers (CTCs), intermediate units (IUs); educational programming for students in non-educational placements such as residential settings (boarding schools), residential facilities, detention centers, and hospital settings; PA Pre-K Counts, Head Start Programs and Preschool Early Intervention programs; and Private Academic Nursery Schools and locally funded pre kindergarten activities. Face coverings are required for all students, staff and visitors. Please see the attached to request a waiver for your student.”
The waiver form includes the following:
“Understandably, school districts, including the SMASD are facing a challenging situation. However, a decision has been made that will protect the safety and well-being of students and staff as best as possible. Although we are putting many preventative measures in place, there are no guarantees of complete prevention from COVID-19.”
It also reminds the reader that the district cannot guarantee that social distancing measures can be maintained at all times, that students and staff will follow the recommendations for proper face covering wearing, even while the district is mandating face coverings, and that while health screenings are to be performed by staff and parents, the district reserves the right to scan any student, visitor or staff member at any time. Refusal will mean that individual will be removed from the building.
The form also notes that the district may be required to switch to remote learning if the PA Department of Health or governor orders the move.
Finally, the form provides options to check for those who wish to have their student be exempt from wearing a mask, with those options being 1 — a medical condition or disability (a medical note is required for this option); 2 — student cannot remove the face covering without help (must be addressed in the student’s 504 or IEP) and 3 — impedes communication or seeking to communicate (must be addressed in student’s 504 or IEP).
The form must include the student’s name, grade and building, as well as a parent signature.
The district plans to open at full capacity Aug. 31, with teachers returning Aug. 24.
Cleaning plans are for custodians to address high-touch areas in the morning, at midday and in the afternoon, with a thorough cleaning to occur once students and staff have gone home each day. Windows will be opened where possible to increase ventilation, especially for classrooms and communal areas such as the gym and cafeteria.
Staff will be trained in cleaning procedures and will have access to cleaning supplies and paper towels in order to clean student desks, mouses, keyboards and classroom door knobs, among other high touch areas.
Plexiglass dividers will be installed in the cafeteria, and other areas will be utilized for meals in order to socially distance students as much as possible.
Physical education classes, lunch and recess will be held outdoors whenever the weather permits, according to the health and safety plan. Students will be required to wear masks during transportation on the buses to and from school.
Visitors will only be permitted to the district buildings with special permission. Transitions between classes at the middle and high school levels will be carefully timed, while elementary students will be escorted through the halls. According to the health and safety plan, regular meetings to update plans and procedures and reminders of pandemic expectations will be held.
