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Schools announce policies for in-person classes

Posted 8/17/21

The start of the 2021-22 school year is quickly approaching and local school districts are announcing their policies regarding COVID-19 online.

The Harrisburg, New Franklin, Fayette, Higbee, and …

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Schools announce policies for in-person classes

Posted

The start of the 2021-22 school year is quickly approaching and local school districts are announcing their policies regarding COVID-19 online.

The Harrisburg, New Franklin, Fayette, Higbee, and Glasgow public schools have all posted information on their websites regarding policies and procedures. Harrisburg is the only area school currently requiring students, staff, and visitors to wear face coverings in all school buildings.

In an August 9 update, the Harrisburg school posted a letter from Superintendent Steve Combs regarding this mandate on its website. “The Harrisburg RVIII School District’s Board of Education, the administration team, and I have decided that we will require masks as of August 10th, 2021. This mandate will be for all staff and students in our district during bus travels, entry, and dismissal of school and anytime indoors that our students and staff cannot socially distance.”

Combs cited CDC guidelines and the high rates of Delta-variant transmission to back up this decision. 

In an August 16 Facebook post, Harrisburg schools provided information about their Aug. 19 open house procedures, indicating staggered time slots for students sorted by surname. 

New Franklin R-I’s “Safe Return to In Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan,” available in the Family Resources section of its website, states that “at this time, there are no statewide health mandates related to K-12 school reopening.” It goes on to state that the school does not plan to take temperatures or implement a mask policy, except while riding on school buses – which is Federally mandated – at this time, but says “our staff will be observing our students for potential symptoms of and exposure to COVID-19.” 

The document says students will be provided with iPads or Chromebooks to take home “should New Franklin have the need to send all students home either temporarily or for an extended time such as because of inclement weather, or extended group illnesses.” The document does not specify what infection rates in the community might prompt such measures. The document states that water fountains will be turned back on and “as per MSHSAA…all school activities will begin as normal for all Fall sports and activities.”

Higbee’s policies are similar, indicating it has no face covering requirement: “There is not a school our county mask mandate.”

Glasgow and Fayette schools’ documents outline levels of community COVID-19 spread and related actions the schools will take, beginning with “Low/No Spread,” and moving up through categories of “Minimal/Moderate Spread” and “Substantial Spread.”

The Fayette R-III document defines Minimal/Moderate spread as “Number of individuals in quarantine is equal to or exceeds 25,” and states the school would remain at this level for two weeks from the time of transition. At this “yellow” level, the document specifies the school would follow local health department guidelines and recommendations, and would require face coverings as per the board of education. Field trips would be eliminated and the school would follow MSHSAA guidelines for extracurricular activities. 

Substantial Spread is defined by the Fayette school document as “In person attendance rate below 80% with multiple confirmed cases among students and staff within the district.” At this level, the school would move to a remote learning model and coordinate with local and state health officials for guidance.

The Glasgow document does not provide definitions for the three levels of spread, but at the Minimal/Moderate level, it would take measures including eliminating the use of shared student materials, turning off water fountains, and “encourage students to bring and use hand sanitizer and face masks/coverings.”

At the Substantial Spread level, the Glasgow document states that it would move to a distance/remote learning model and coordinate with local and state health officials.

The schools will continue to update their Safe Return to In Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plans as needed; families can view information on the school district websites, social media pages, or by contacting school administrative offices for updates.

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