Edmond Public Schools unveiled its policy for the fall in a meeting Monday night. The lengthy plan is designed to make pivoting from in-person to distance instruction seamless, if forced to by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Edmond students will be back in the classroom on August 13, but much like in the rest of Oklahoma, it will look different for the district’s 25,000 students.
Traditional schooling is the intention, but options will be available in case of emergency.
For example, students who don’t want to come back to school can go entirely online. Schools will also be prepared to limit students in the classroom by having them rotate out on different days or even go entirely online if necessary as part of the school’s ‘brick to click’ plan.
The plan is similar to those of other large districts around the state that are spending their summers scrambling to get ready to instruct students in the fall amid the global pandemic.
New guidelines for the district include:
- parents are asked to take children's temperature every morning before school
- parents are asked to keep their children at home if they're exhibiting symptoms
- students will be reminded to wash their hands often and hand sanitzer will be readily available
- classwide snacks will no longer be allowed
- each student will keep their individual pencils, scissors, markers, etc. and they will not be shared
- water fountains will be disconnected, but water bottle filling stations will remain in operation
- elementary students will also be asked to have a face mask available at all times and use is highly recommended, although the school will not provide them
- secondary students will be expected to wear masks throughout the day
Plans are still being made on how to maintain social distance in common areas like hallways, classrooms, cafeterias, gyms and buses. Plans are also in the works for the best precautions for extracurricular activities, such as athletics, vocal music, marching band, drama and more.
