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COVID Return to School 2020

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Back to School Plan

Our Oakridge Back to School Plan is our guiding policies and guidance teachers and staff will follow until further guidance is provided.  This plan includes guidance on safety, hygiene, sanitation procedures, learning models, and more.  It has been updated to include the October 5, 2020 order from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon.

Back to School FAQ: Here we’ve compiled some of our most frequently asked questions.

 

Extended COVID Learning Plan

The Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan is also approved by the Oakridge Board of Education.  This Plan does not replace the Oakridge Back to School Plan, it is an additional plan that includes new assurances and sections on educational goals, instructional delivery, grading, and equitable access.

 

Facial Coverings (Masks)

Effective October 6, schools must not allow indoor gatherings of any kind unless they require individuals to wear a face covering.  This order was issued by MDHHS Director Robert Gordon.

Exceptions:

Although a face covering is strongly encouraged even for individuals not required to wear one, the requirement to wear a face covering does not apply to individuals who:

  1. Are younger than five years old (and, per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), children under the age of two should not wear a mask);
  2. Cannot medically tolerate a face covering;
  3. Are eating or drinking while seated at a food service establishment;
  4. Are exercising outdoors and able to consistently maintain six feet of social distance;
  5. Are swimming;
  6. Are receiving a service for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary;
  7. Are entering a business or are receiving a service and are asked to temporarily remove a face covering for identification purposes;
  8. Are communicating with someone who is deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing and where the ability to see the mouth is essential to communication;
  9. Are actively engaged in a public safety role, including but not limited to law enforcement, firefighters, or emergency medical personnel, and where wearing a mask would seriously interfere in the performance of their public safety responsibilities;
  10. Are at a polling place for purposes of voting in an election;
  11.  Are officiating or engaging in a religious service;
  12. Are giving a speech for broadcast or to an audience, provided that the audience is at least six feet away from the speaker;

Recess is not an exception.  But, don’t be confused with “food service establishment”.  Common sense will prevail…kids don’t have to wear a mask when eating/drinking at school (breakfast, lunch, snack, water bottle, etc)

 

Indoor/Outdoor Gatherings

The MDHHS order also addresses attendance limitations at indoor/outdoor gatherings including masking requirements.  Please download the order to review such guidance.

 

Reporting

MDHHS recently released this order regarding notice of probable/confirmed cases. Our page for such reporting is here. Here are some of the highlights:

Upon learning that a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19 is a School Associated Case, the local health department must, within 24 hours, notify the School to which the School Associated Case(s) relate, including the affected building or location and other information that may assist the School with carrying out its duties under this order.

Within 24 hours of being notified by a local health department of School Associated Case(s), the School must provide Public Notice to the School Community in a highly visible location on the School’s website that covers the impacted building or location. Schools are encouraged to provide information about measures in place at the School to prevent transmission of COVID-19, as well as measures that individuals can take to prevent transmission.

Public Notice does not replace the need for direct notification to persons who were, or are suspected to have been, a Close Contact of School Associated Case(s); such notice is the responsibility of the local health department.

 

Learning Models

Learning Models: If you’d like more information on our approved learning models, this is where you’ll find it.

OOLA Information: Information regarding the Oakridge Online Learning Academy can be found at this link.

 

Technology Support

Student Device Support: If you’re having trouble with your student’s Oakridge- provided electronics.

Parent Schoology/Google Classroom Support: These video resources allow you to follow your student’s learning as they attend school and learn in a partially-virtual environment. We also have a PDF guide for Schoology parents.

 

Public Health – Muskegon County Guidance

Public Health – Muskegon County has created the COVID-19 Return to School Parent Toolkit (Updated 10-13-2020) which serves as a guiding document for parents. This document answers questions from exposure protocols, spread risks, school procedures, and much more. This Symptoms Flowchart can also help guide you. Public Health’s most recent letter to parents is here.

 

Daily Student Screening

Before sending your child to school, we ask all parents to screen their child for COVID Symptoms using this checklist every day. This will help keep all students safe!

 

Transportation

Transportation: You can reach our Transportation office at (231) 788-7113

 

School Calendars

School Calendars: Calendars for both staff and students can be found here.

 

Contact Us

Contact Us: If you have a unique question and can’t find an answer here, you can always email us. Or if you prefer, below are the websites and phone numbers for each school building.

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