It seems to be the top question on every parent’s mind with each passing day of summer – when and how will our kids return to school in the midst of COVID-19?
Eagle Grove Superintendent Jess Toliver said the answer to this is fluid. In fact, he said the details literally changed only seconds before our interview this past Monday afternoon. But as of press time, the Eagle Grove Area School District plans to send students Prek-K through 12th grade back to the classroom on a full-time daily basis on Aug. 24, 2020. While they had at one time talked about starting one week earlier to make up for the unexpected dismissal last March, Toliver stated that they decided to keep it the 24th. They did so in an effort to make sure all safety precautions are in place for very student, teacher, and faculty member since COVID-19 is still on the rise in Wright County, which had climbed to nearly 400 cases here at the time of this story.
“We recognize returning to school in the midst of a global pandemic emergency is a very serious issue,” a letter arriving in the mail to parents this week states, written as a joint effort between Wright County Public Health, Iowa Specialty Hospitals and Clinics, as well as all three school districts in the county.
When Governor Kim Reynolds gave the Return to Learn decision over to individual districts on June 25, Eagle Grove, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, and Belmond-Klemme decided it would be in their best interest to work together with Wright County Public Health and the Iowa Specialty Hospitals and Clinics to decide the best course of action. It was reached in unanimous consensus that all school districts would return to classroom instruction this fall.
Sandy McGrath, of Wright County Public Health, emphasized, “It’s important to get kids back in the classroom.”
Iowa Specialty Hospital Doctor Michael McLoughlin agreed, saying “It makes the most sense to reconvene school. To be out of school is devastating not only educationally, but also socially and nutritionally.”
“The idea is that when we do start school, that we are in as normal of an environment as possible,” stated Toliver. “We decided if you’re going to go back to school, then you’re ‘going back’ to school…we will put in as many safety precautions as possible, and if a parent has concerns, we will work with those parents.”
Those safety precautions first and foremost are face shields. All teachers and staff will be REQUIRED to wear one.
“We recommend everyone, including the students, wear one for their own protection, added Toliver.
The plan now is for the Eagle Grove Area School District to provide a clear face shield for every student, teacher, and faculty member. Toliver and the District Leadership Team believes the face shields are the best option because they not only provide nose and mouth protection, but eyes as well. Plus, you are able to see faces (especially the teachers).
“When you communicate, face expression has a lot to do with that…and it makes learning easier, especially for the younger students,” he explained.
While the shields will be mandatory for teachers, they will not be for students, but again, it is strongly recommended for the safety of all students. Students who choose to do so may also wear a face mask under the shield if it makes them feel more safe. If a student is not wearing their mask/shield in school, the parents will be notified. Furthermore, if a student who is not wearing a mask is exposed to someone with COVID-19, they will need to quarantine for 14 days.
Toliver said he and his team are realistic that shields may be difficult for some students to wear, especially the littler ones, But, they will teach this as part of their start of the school year expectations.
“If they wear them for even four hours a day, that’s better than nothing,” Toliver said. “Our goal (for everyone) is to limit exposure to COVID…and that means getting these kids outside any time we can be it for recess or outdoor learning.”
According to the CDC “the virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person between people who are in close contact with one another within six feet, and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.” Obviously, there is not enough room in Eagle Grove classrooms to space kids out every six feet, but Toliver said he feels confident in the plans they have in place to keep kids safe – face shields. In addition, the science of the virus has shown that children are at dramatically lower risk of severe illness from COVID-19 than adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics is also urging schools to reconvene this fall stating that “three feet of physical distance can be just as effective when students are wearing masks.”
If all students wear the shields like they should, not only will it help stop the spread of COVID-19, but it could even decrease the number of seasonal cases of the flu and strep, Toliver noted.
To achieve this, though, they need the diligence of the parents – to encourage their students to wear the protective gear AND to keep students home when they are not feeling well.
Toliver said he is not turning a blind eye to the possibility that there could be one or more positive cases of COVID-19 somewhere within the school district. When and if that happens, he realizes it may also be hard to get substitute teachers to come in…so please, help prevent the spread by wearing the shield/mask.
Lunch
This is still a work in progress. As of now, Toliver said they are looking at delivering sack lunches to each classroom to lower the number of students gathering together without masks at one time. However, there is currently a shortage of ham, turkey, and peanut butter and jelly like they used during the summer lunch program. This may result in the hiring of additional staff to help pack lunches that could require more time to prepare by hand.
Supplies
It’s not only lunch items that are of rare commodity for schools trying to get ready to Return to Learn. So are supplies like hand sanitizer, paper towels, Lysol wipes. While all of these purchases will be funded through the $160,00 federal money distributed by the state, they have to first be able to find them to supply them. They currently have several gallons of 80% hand sanitizer, but Toliver worries how long that will last when you have a thousand people using it throughout the district.
“And we don’t even know how cleaning will go. Will we need more garbage bags? Will our dumpsters fill up faster?” Toliver questioned. These are all issues that will have to be addressed as they arise.
Funding
Toliver, like other school districts in Iowa, are grateful to have received $160,000 in federal money distributed through the state to use on PPE and other supplies, however, Toliver said that won’t last long.
“We are burning through it fast,” he said.
$50,000 has been allocated for technology – to prepare if there is an outbreak that calls for a mandatory shut-down of all schools. They need to purchase computers for the lower level students. They also bought external cords, antennas, and provide a better broadband so all students are able to find a hot spot to get online. It will only be eligible for school issued computers, not home computers.
$50,000 has been allocated to safety equipment and devices. Masks for teachers alone will cost $10,000. It will easily cost another $10,000 for students. $7,000 was spent on electrostatic cleaners that will be used to sanitize the classrooms each evening. They are also setting up a “quality instruction” room for teachers to use should they have to teach online. Other supplies like hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes for rooms and buses also have to come from this fund.
An additional $50,000 has been set aside, according to Toliver, for staff – paying teachers who have served on the planning board over the summer, assistants if people are needed to help a large volume of learn-at-home students, money for substitute teachers if others become ill or choose not to return, and more money for extra bus shuttles to keep student rider numbers down.
Buses
Toliver said as of right now it looks like bus routes will be offered for students this year – with guidelines. All riders MUST wear a mask. The school will supply a reusable/washable mask to each rider if needed. If a student does not leave them on, the parents will be contacted. If it is still not worn, they will not be allowed to ride the bus. In addition, each bus will carry less students, which means pick up/drop off and wait times might vary from previous years. Please be patient as they figure out the schedule.
Learn from home option
Of course, with all the above measures, Toliver said if there are parent/student concerns, they are encouraged to contact the school. “We know there are non 100% right answers,” said Toliver.
That’s why they are willing to look at cases on an individual need. If a student is not comfortable returning to school, the school district will provide needed materials for the families to teach at home. They will also have limited access to teachers for help. If a student starts the school year at home, but decides they would like to return to classroom learning, Toliver said they will be allowed to on the first of each month at least through December.
Other changes this school year
New this year will be the ability to do online registration. No need to come into the school gym with everyone else. Now you can do it from the comfort of your home. Watch for more information on this as it becomes available. This has also opened the door for parents to save some money this year. There will be no registration fee for anyone this year as the school district has decided to let the online company they are working with do some of the data collection. The situation will be re-evaluated next year, but Toliver is hoping this will be available then, too.
“Our goal is if we as a staff make it the norm to use safety practices like wearing shields, your kids will pick up on it and do it too…and I think most will,” said Toliver. “One thing is for sure, this school year will be forever changing.”
