HOPE — Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. is sticking by its original COVID-19 preparedness plan adopted in July which allows students to attend in-person classes with or without a mask.
In July, the school district announced masks will be optional for both students and staff in most situations at Hauser Jr.-Sr. High and Hope Elementary schools. However, adults and children are required to wear the masks on school buses, due to a current federal mandate.
Flat Rock-Hawcreek students and staff are required to wear a mask when visiting the health office. The northeast Bartholomew County School district has suspended temperature checks, and will allow visitors inside their buildings.
Superintendent Shawn Price was asked if stricter precautions are being considered after Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. officials adopted revisions on Monday that require students and adults to wear masks while indoors in school and on school buses.
“No changes at this time,” Price said on Wednesday. “We will continue to monitor our district numbers and make adjustments to our plan if necessary.
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. board members voted unanimously Monday to require its students to wear masks for in-person learning indoors and while on school buses.
Other changes adopted by BCSC officials require that masks must be worn by spectators, coaches, and non-participating players while indoors. In addition, joining students for an on-campus lunch is not permitted.
BCSC is also closing of drinking fountains, and asking schools to consider alternative locations in addition to cafeterias for lunch for social distancing.
The decisions on masks come as Columbus Regional Hospital reports its highest number of hospitalizations since Feb. 5, with 18 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday. The number was down to 15 as of Tuesday morning, but hospital officials said COVID-19 patients admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit has dramatically increased in the past two weeks.
