State issues health reopening guidelines
From before children get on the bus in the morning to the time they arrive home in the afternoon, COVID-19 safety measures will impact nearly every part of a student’s day when schools reopen for the 2020-21 academic year.
The state Department of Education on Thursday released detailed guidelines that must be followed if in-person instruction is to resume amid the pandemic, but schools still have to create their own health and safety plans.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to reopening every school in the state,” Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera said in a conference call with reporters. “However, we’re going to remain committed to compiling and ensuring the most current and endorsed data, research and information grounded in health and safety, which school leaders [can use to] make an informed decision that best meets the needs of their communities.”
The education department will work in conjunction with the state Department of Health and local health officials to monitor COVID19 levels in each community as students return to the classroom.
The state could shut down some or all schools again if deemed necessary to protect public health, according to Pennsylvania Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine. But the guidelines put forth by the state are an attempt to avoid that scenario.
“We all agree that opening schools in the fall is so very, very important, and it’s critical to provide schools with the tools that they need to do so safely within this global pandemic of COVID-19,” Dr. Levine said on the press call with Mr. Rivera. “The recommendations that will be released today provide a framework for schools to follow for the best infection-control procedures to protect students and to protect students and staff.”
While schools will be responsible for many of the safety measures, some of the onus will fall on parents.
Students or their parents, guardians or caregivers must perform a symptom screening before children go to the bus stop or arrive at school in the morning. Students should stay home if they have a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, a cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing or other symptoms that could be related to COVID-19.
The state told schools to be lenient on attendance policies for in-person instruction and activities for students and staff who are quarantined, and a plan to transition to remote learning and work should be put in place.
If students pass their screening and get on a bus, they must wear a mask and immediately wash their hands or use hand sanitizer. Students should be seated from the back to the front along the route, and the same children should sit together every day. Buses should be cleaned after every trip, and bus windows can be kept open to improve ventilation depending on the weather.
The state encourages students to use alternate modes of transportation to help limit the number of people on buses.
When students arrive at school, they should immediately go to their assigned classrooms without congregating. The state advised schools to eliminate lockers unless assigned by cohort. Masks or face coverings will be required throughout most of the school day with certain exceptions.
In a classroom, students should sit 6 feet apart and face the same direction. The state suggests schools hold classes in alternative areas where social distancing can be maintained, such as gyms, auditoriums or outdoors.
Class times may be staggered to limit the number of people in the hallways at one time, and — when possible — schools should rotate teachers and keep students in the same classroom. Schools were also advised to create one-way traffic patterns in hallways by using physical guides such as tape on floors.
When it comes to eating lunch, students may stay in classrooms instead of going to the cafeteria. If cafeterias must be used, students should remain 6 feet apart and avoid sitting across the table from each other. Students should eat in cohorts even when they are spaced out and should only remove masks when they are eating or drinking.
Food should be served individually on plates or in boxes in lieu of buffet- and self-serve-style meals, and students cannot share food, snacks or utensils.
The measures will follow students outside during recess, where children should remain in small groups.
Before children use playgrounds, they need to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer. Playground equipment — especially hightouch surfaces — should be cleaned regularly throughout the day.
The guidelines were informed by recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, as well as local and state health officials.
“We have gained a great deal of experience since the start of this outbreak and have also learned from best practices from other states and from counties in Pennsylvania,” Dr. Levine said.
Mr. Rivera said in-person instruction is the most effective way of teaching, and schools should do everything they can to make it happen.
But it is not entirely up to schools.
Dr. Levine stressed the importance of communities acting to slow the spread of COVID-19 before the school year begins.
“Pennsylvania children want to go back to school, but our actions as a community impact those things right now,” she said. “We need people to be safe … and to protect against COVID-19 by wearing a mask.”