SPPS will reopen schools starting Wednesday, April 14, for 6-12th graders. Those who decide to do in-person learning will be there for 4 1/2 hours from Monday through Thursday. Fridays will be distance learning days for all students.

Anyone who wanted to remain in virtual learning had to sign up by Thursday, March 11. If you didn’t sign up, you will be automatically enrolled in school for April 14th. Students will continue to learn with their current teachers whether they are attending in person or virtually. 

For those wishing to return to school, the following health and safety measures will take place on the school’s end:

• Face coverings for students and staff are required 
• Daily cleaning and disinfecting for door handles, switches, hand railings, desks, and bathrooms. 
• Assigned seating during meals
• Conducting a daily health screening
• Students and staff must remain six feet apart 
• Avoid sharing workspaces including phones and computers
• Stay home if you are sick and notify your supervisor
• Go home if you become ill at work and notify your supervisor

If a student or staff contracts COVID-19 or shows symptoms, the following response will be carried out:

• The area where the student or staff member has been will be disinfected. For example the cleaning of bathrooms, hallways, drinking fountains, cafeterias, kitchens, and health offices. 
• Areas that are touched frequently will be cleaned. That includes: the door handles, outside lockers, student desks/chairs, tables, bleachers, exercise equipment, handrails, pool deck, and more. 
• The cafeteria will be disinfected, and the kitchen staff will disinfect the kitchen 

Personally, for now, I think we should stay home, even though I am eager to get back to school, right now is not the best time. These steps that have been taken to avoid the spread of COVID and for those who get COVID are good to take, but it’s simply not enough.

How will you know if the student that has COVID has not infected someone else and then that person brings it home to their families? And are the schools going to provide a COVID test for a student who gets infected?

For more information, please visit: spps.org/reopen and look for additional info.