2021-2022 Return to School Plan

Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Schools welcome students back to everyday school for in-person learning. An online option will not be available this school year. We will implement safety protocols to the largest extent possible but any student who attends school will incur some level of risk. We will decrease the likelihood of infection with hygiene such as hand washing and hand sanitizer being available, cleaning/sanitizing, and safety procedures, but being in a public place has a certain level of risk that cannot be eliminated. The district will continue to monitor the situation and may make changes accordingly. This may include, but is not limited to, requiring masks, requiring masks in specific situations or grade levels, requiring masks on a temporary basis, limiting group work, going to a hybrid schedule, etc. We ask for your patience and understanding throughout these times.

Masks

• Mask wearing at school:

  • Grades K-6: All staff, students, and visitors are required to wear a mask

while indoors during school time (and right before or after if attending a school-sponsored event if in a classroom setting) when they are not able to socially distance (6 foot).

• Grades 7-12: Students, staff and visitors are strongly encouraged to wear a mask while indoors, but not required. 

• View Face Mask Research from ODH

• Due to a federal CDC order for public transportation, which includes school vehicles, face coverings will still be required for all students and staff, whether vaccinated or not, while on school transportation. 

• A mask exemption form for medical or disability reasons can be found HERE. Documentation is required.

Daily Self-Monitoring

• We encourage and recommend students, staff, and visitors to conduct a self-assessment at home prior to coming to school or school events and if you are sick, stay at home.

• Any student with a fever over 100.4F should stay home.

• Any student that has the symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home from school and should see their primary care provider to be assessed for COVID-19.

Communications when a student/staff member has been diagnosed with a COVID 19 and close contacts for the classroom setting.

• School districts will implement processes to comply with orders from the Ohio Department of Health regarding communications about COVID 19.

  • COVID-19 dashboard will be posted on our website with positive cases and number subjected to quarantine. This will be updated each school day.

• All parents or legal guardians of students, as well as school staff, must notify the school of a confirmed diagnosis within 24 hours.

• The district will work collaboratively with GCPH and communicate positive cases and close contact information to parents/guardians. 

• There will be the expectation and responsibility to follow the ODH “Guidelines for Quarantine After Exposure in K-12 Classroom Settings” document and flowchart. This flowchart is found at the end of this document but both documents can also be found at: Quarantine Guidelines Flowchart and  Quarantine Guideline Factsheet. Additional information from ODH - K-12 Quarantine in Ohio and Legal Information on quarantine and Isolation

  • If your child is identified as a close contact,* you will receive notification from both the school nurse and GCPH. If you are awaiting official quarantine notification from GCPH, reference the Quarantine Guidelines Flowchart. If your child meets the quarantine criteria, they should not attend school. GCPH will make the official  determination if quarantine is necessary or not. If GCPH does not contact you within 3-4 business days, please contact them at 937-374-5600 or [email protected].

    • *A close contact is defined as someone in a classroom or classroom-like setting who was within 6 feet of the unmasked positive person.

    • 90 Day Immunity: Individuals who have tested positive (rapid antigen or PCR) within the last 90 days beginning on the date of symptom onset, or testing date for an asymptomatic positive person will follow the protocols for vaccinated individuals on the Quarantine Flow Chart. Proof of a positive test is required to qualify for immunity.  

    • Quarantine Graphic

Returning to School After Illness

• If a student is diagnosed as having COVID-19, they must meet the following criteria to return to school:

  • 24 hours with no fever (without using fever-reducing medication) AND

  • Other symptoms improved AND 

  • 10 days since symptoms first appeared 

• Students that only have a fever and no other symptoms and have not had any contact with an individual that has COVID-19 may return to school after they are fever-free for 24 hours without using any fever-reducing medications.  

• Any other illnesses should be handled in a routine manner according to district policies.

Vaccines

1. COVID-19 vaccines for those eligible (students, staff, and visitors) will be optional, leaving this decision up to each family.

   • ODH “strongly recommends vaccinations for staff and eligible students" and CDC states ”Vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic.”  You may find the vaccination location nearest you by visiting https://gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov

They were wearing a mask at the time of exposure* 

OR

They are vaccinated*

If a student or staff member is deemed a close contact and were not wearing a mask at the time of exposure (this includes lunch), they will be subject to quarantine at home as outlined in the ODH document below.

Bottom line-If your child is attending school without wearing a mask and/or is not vaccinated, you increase their chances of being subjected to quarantine at home.

Reference the  Quarantine Graphic for a simplistic explanation for quarantine after exposure.