INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Education has released guidelines for reopening public schools in the midst of the pandemic, developed in partnership with the governor’s office, the Indiana State Department of Health, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, the Indiana High School Athletic Association and IDOE’s Reentry Advisory Group.
“The health and safety of Hoosier students, school staff, and communities is priority one,” said State Superintendent Jennifer McCormick in an official statement. “Providing students with a quality education is critical and therefore it is crucial we offer considerations focused on getting students back in the classroom in a safe manner.”
The guidelines presented in IN-CLASS are considerations, not mandates. Districts and schools are asked to use the document as a guide and consult with local health departments. In addition, the state advises school corporations to contact relevant stakeholders and local legal counsel to determine which considerations are feasible.
The considerations include, but are not limited to:
Review and revise the 2020-2021 school year calendar and build in contingencies. While districts should plan for 180 days of instruction, these mandatory 180 days “can consist of onsite, virtual, or blended (hybrid) instruction.” Schools should also consider taking shorter or longer breaks than usual.
Review policies and procedures included in handbooks and athletic codes of conduct documents to provide more flexibility and remove punitive measures for absences when there is determined illness, a localized outbreak, or exposure of a contagious disease.
Keep supplies on hand to “thoroughly clean and disinfect all buildings, desks, buses, equipment, and other surfaces prior to students and/or staff returning and after return, using CDC, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines.”
Develop health screening procedures for students and staff.
Schedule time for handwashing, sanitizing desks, and other good hygiene practices.
Provide a separate room or holding area for students/staff who might have COVID-19 or other communicable diseases and are waiting for pickup. The room needs to be disinfected frequently and restricted to authorized staff/students.”
Review and revise the district/school’s technology plan and examine what steps can be recommended to the school board to expand the number of students with fast and reliable home Internet access and take-home devices in preparation for intermittent and/or continuous remote learning.
The document also stated that “mask-wearing requirements or recommendations in schools should be consistent with state and local guidelines” and that current CDC guidelines recommend that both students and employees wear “cloth face coverings.”
IN-CLASS also stated that while water should be accessible in schools, water fountains should not be utilized in schools until further notice.
In the event that a person with a confirmed COVID-19 case was on school property, the school should immediately contact the local health department.
“It is important to also notify the Indiana Department of Education,” the document read. “Unless extenuating circumstances exist, the district/school will work with the local health department to assess factors such as the likelihood of exposure to employees and students in the building, the number of cases in the community, and other factors that will determine building closure.”
The school should also immediately inform custodial staff so that impacted areas, furniture and equipment can be disinfected. Also, “if possible, based upon student and staff presence, the custodial staff will wait 24 hours or as long as possible prior to disinfecting. However, if that is not possible or school is in session, the cleaning will occur immediately.”
The local health department is responsible for instructing the infected person and their immediate contacts on quarantine guidelines.
“The individual who tested positive will not be identified in communications to the school community at large but may need to be selectively identified for contact tracing by the local health department,” the document stated.
The state said there may be revisions to the guidelines as pandemic conditions evolve in Indiana.
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More information about school reopening guidelines may be found at www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/news/june-5-class-document.pdf.
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