Masks likely as classes resume

The district tells what the fall semester may look like, including smaller classes and daily health checks

Denver Public Schools offered the first glimpse Thursday of what its fall semester may look like, outlining new COVID-19 safety protocols that include smaller class sizes, daily health checks and a likely requirement that all students and staff members wear masks while at school.

The announcement comes just days after the Colorado Department of Education released its recommendations for reopening buildings and conducting in-person learning this fall.

DPS schools across the city closed classrooms and shifted to online learning in March as state officials and education leaders moved to help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus.

While executive orders enacted by Gov. Jared Polis require teachers and workers to wear masks during the school day, DPS’ stance to mandate that students also wear facial coverings is notably stricter.

DPS is Colorado’s largest school district, with more than 93,000 students enrolled in 2018, according to its website.

“It is essential that we take these new precautions and make every effort to maximize the academic progress and social and emotional development for our kids,” Steve Federico, a pediatric and school programs specialist

with Denver Health, said in a video outlining the district’s proposed changes.

In addition to likely requiring students and staffers to don face coverings, the district plans to implement the following safety protocols:

• Limiting each classroom’s capacity to 10 to 16 people, including instructors, to allow for 6-foot distancing.

• Minimizing movement throughout each facility by keeping students in a single classroom as much as possible, including to eat lunch.

• Implementing wellness screenings, including temperature and symptom checks, for every person upon arrival to school.

• Discontinuing large assemblies.

• Disinfecting facilities throughout the day, as well as between school days.

If someone at a school tests positive for the virus, DPS may discontinue in-person learning for that particular classroom for at least 14 days to address the situation, the announcement said. Other districts throughout Colorado, such as Jeffco Public Schools, are preparing for a mix of onsite and remote learning for the upcoming semester.

On Friday, DPS plans to release several potential plans for how the district might reduce class sizes through a blend of in-person and online learning, according to district spokeswoman Winna Maclaren.

“That would include what that mix would look like and what kind of scenarios we’re looking at so that some students will be in the building certain days of the week or certain weeks of the month so we can limit class sizes,” Maclaren said.

Additionally, the district plans to implement special policies for high-risk students and staff members, including those who may live with someone at high risk of contracting COVID-19.