In a letter from Louisville Municipal School District Superintendent David Luke, the district plans a traditional opening of all schools in the district on Thursday, August 6. In light of the COVID pandemic, the administrative staff has collaborated with other districts around the state, as well as medical professionals, stakeholders, and has participated in state and nationwide Zoom meetings related to the coronavirus. They have also analyzed the results of surveys, and considered research from the American Academy of Pediatrics & the Centers for Disease Control, and have determined that a traditional start to school is what is best for all parties concerned. However, the plan is subject to ‘unforeseen circumstances, executive orders, local ordinances, etc.’ With this goal in mind they will be working the next few weeks to refine the plan, train staff members and educate students and parents on practices to increase safety in the schools while providing a quality educational experience. Some areas of interest are: •Transportation: Parents are encouraged to bring their children to school, however all buses will run throughout the district. Bus drivers and students on buses will be required to wear a mask or face covering. Each bus will have hand sanitizer, and will be disinfected after each route. Children from the same household will be asked to sit together. •Cafeteria: For a period of time, meals will be modified to accommodate social distancing. •Classrooms: All classrooms will be distanced to the best extent possible. Parents should send a mask with children to be worn when distancing is not possible. Staff & students will be required to wear a mask when distancing is not possible. Classrooms will have hand sanitizer and will be disinfected throughout the day. •Staff: Staff will be screened upon arrival and anyone with a temperature above 100 will be sent home. All staff will wear masks when distancing cannot be maintained. Administration and custodial staff have been trained on how to sanitize buildings throughout the day. Administrators are developing school-specific schedules to ensure the safety of all. •Students: All students will have their temperature checked before entering the school building and anyone with a temperature above 100 will be quarantined and parents will be notified to pick up the child. •Athletics/Extra-Curricular Activities: School activities and athletics are scheduled to proceed. An update will be given when the MHSAA finalizes a plan for sports and extra-curricular activities. •Campus Visitors: Visitors will be limited, and anyone entering the school building will be required to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer. •Technology: Shared technology will be sanitized after every use. •Sick Students: Sick students will be quarantined with a mask; the parents will be contacted and the child taken to the car. The child must be fever free, without medication, for 24 hours before returning to school. •Exposure to COVID-19: •Any student or staff member who has been tested for COVID-19 must be quarantined until released by a physician. •Any student or staff member who tests positive for the virus must quarantine at home for 14 days, and provide the school with a medical release from a physician. •Parnets should notify the school if their child tests positive for COVID-19 or has come in contact with someone who has the virus. •Any student or staff member who becomes aware that they have been in close contact with a person who has the virus may be asked to quarantine for a longer period of time. •When the school becomes aware that a student or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, the parents of the students in that student's class/activity will be notified without identifying the affected student. All should then monitor for signs and symptoms of the virus. Any student or staff member who was within six feet of the affected individual for at least 15 minutes will be notified and asked to quarantine at home and monitor for signs and symptoms. Virtual/distance learning is an option. Parents should schedule a meeting with their child’s principal to determine if the child qualifies for online learning and to complete the required paperwork.
