Clay County Public Schools
CCPS School Re-Opening Plan for 2021-2022 School Year
Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services
Opening Day: Monday, August 2, 2021
First Student Attendance Day: Thursday, August 5, 2021
Parents and Guardians, I know many of you are anxious about plans to return to school. School will open August 5, 2021. It is our plan to open school as close to normal as possible. It is our goal for students to return to and remain in an in-person instruction setting this year. Below is the framework that will guide our school reopening plan. This information is in accordance with local, state and Kentucky Department of Education health guidelines.
Instruction
- Instruction will be in-person. Classroom instruction will be delivered using evidence-based practices and programs serving student’s best academic interest.
- Full-time virtual instruction will not be available to students, unless a medical excuse is presented; at that time, the student may be assigned to Homebound instruction.
- Daily school operations along with extra-curricular and co-curricular programming will be implemented in student’s best interest.
Transportation
- Symptom screenings will be performed by parents/ guardians at home before students enter the bus.
- Students and staff are required to wear a mask while riding a school bus. Distancing of 3 feet is recommended if possible without interfering with bus routing. (Students on buses when applicable will sit with siblings/family groups).
-Provisions will be made for students who board the bus without a mask or do not have the resources to obtain one.
-A driver does not need to wear a mask if they are the only person on the bus.
School Building
- Students and staff are not required to wear a mask, but it is highly recommended.
- Staff and students will continually monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
- Staff and students will report to the nurse immediately if feeling symptomatic.
- All high-touch surfaces will be disinfected regularly throughout the day.
- Recommended that staff and students will sanitize or wash their hands frequently.
- Hand sanitizer will be available in all common areas, hallways, and classrooms.
- Classrooms and common areas will be ventilated with additional outdoor air when possible, using windows and doors.
- Non-essential visitors will not be permitted on campuses.
Cafeteria
- Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Lunch and breakfast will be prepared and served by lunchroom staff. We will eat lunch as usual, they can face each other. Students will be spaced out to the extent possible or practicable.
- If a school chooses not to use a cafeteria, students will eat in their classrooms.
- Staff will disinfect all eating areas after students are finished eating.
- School water fountains are open and available for use
Recess
- School playground equipment is open and available for use
-Social distancing will be practiced to the extent practicable
Restrooms
- Restrooms will be disinfected regularly.
- Restrooms will be monitored to avoid overcrowding.
Healthy at School Practices
-Parents are asked to screen their child for COVID-19 symptoms prior to attending school each day. Students with a temperature of 100.4 or higher should remain home and parents/guardians should contact their child's school. Students should be symptom-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication before returning to school.
-Students will be encouraged to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Handwashing stations and hand sanitizer will be available throughout school facilities.
-The district will continue to encourage good hygiene practices such as hand washing, sanitizing, and covering coughs and sneezes.
-School nurse services are available at all Clay County schools
COVID-19 Vaccine
-Students are NOT REQUIRED to be vaccinated to attend school
-Students age 12 and older and their families are encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine
-Staff are encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine
Positive COVID-19 Cases/Quarantine/Contact Tracing
-Students and staff who test positive for COVID-19 should follow the quarantine directions of the local health department or healthcare provider.
-We will work with Clay County Health Department to facilitate case investigation and contact tracing.
-Fully vaccinated students and staff do not need to quarantine unless they have tested positive.
Our goal is to maintain a traditional in-person instructional model. Please understand if we receive government mandates then our plans will change. Our school administration and teachers are working diligently to meet the needs of our students. I ask for your patience as we continue to prepare for the opening of school.