PENDLETON — Area school corporations have released plans for the reopening of schools in August, with the acknowledgment that the situation is fluid in light of COVID-19.
South Madison Community School Corp. has released its detailed plan for the opening of traditional, in-person school on Aug. 6.
Superintendent Mark Hall informed students and families in June that administrators were working on a detailed re-entry plan of bringing children back to school safely without altering the traditional school calendar.
That plan was released at the end of last week. In a 21-page re-entry document, the corporation announced the South Madison COVID-19 Roadmap that lists four different levels of spread.
Level 1 is “Low/No Spread” with the school operating traditionally with safety protocols. Level 2 and Level 3 are both under the heading of “Minimal/Moderate Spread.” Level 2 is for traditional operation with enhanced safety and social distancing protocols. Level 3 is for a hybrid operation using a combination of in-person and e-learning. Level 4 is “Substantial Spread,” during which schools would be closed and use e-learning.
All five schools — East Elem-entary, Maple Ridge Elementary, Pendleton Elementary (Primary and Intermediate), Pendleton Heights Middle School and Pendleton Heights High School — are set to open Aug. 6 under Level 2 guidelines.
The document includes a section called “The New Normal,” which dictates certain rules to abide by during the pandemic.
They include:
• Students and staff will be required to be fever-free for 72 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication before returning to school.
• Schools will maximize instructional space to support social distancing as much as possible.
• School cafeterias will maximize available space to support social distancing as much as possible, and food distribution practices will be modified to reduce common touching.
• Schools will employ enhanced cleaning procedures with additional hand sanitizer stations available.
• Playgrounds will be frequently sanitized during the school day.
• School buses will be sanitized prior to student boarding and between the secondary and elementary school routes.
• Students will be given assigned seats in classrooms, school buses and, when possible, in the cafeteria.
• Schools will identify a separate space to treat COVID-19 symptomatic students.
• Water fountains will be turned off or modified to allow for bottle refilling only.
• Visitors and guest access will be restricted during the school day.
• Perfect attendance incentives will be discontinued.
• Virtual options will be available for any students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade who do not wish to return to school because of health concerns.
Hall said the plan was submitted to the Madison County Health Department, and the district was informed it “had all parts needed.”
With the fluidity of the situation, Hall added that the corporation will be flexible in adjusting when needed.
“Essentially, we are going to react to see how the spread is in the community,” Hall said. “If it increases, we’ll change the level, and if it decreases, we’ll change the level.”
The complete plan is available online at http://smadison.k12.in.us/ under the heading “COVID-19 Information.”
Frankton-Lapel Community Schools released a 2020-21 re-entry plan earlier this month, which includes a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.
Frankton-Lapel schools are scheduled to open on time with students on Aug. 13. Educators will also offer the FLCS Academy for students who choose to continue online studies. The academy is also available to students who have, or students with immediate family who have, risk-factor health issues.
The Lapel schools plan also lists similar levels of spread, including substantial spread, minimal/moderate spread and low/no spread.
Assistant Superintendent Sterling Boles said Frankton-Lapel schools are currently at the low/no spread level, but added via email, “the situation is fluid and could change before the start of school depending upon the Madison County Health Department’s assessment of the pandemic in Madison County.”
The Frankton-Lapel plan is located at flcs.k12.in.us/.