Guidelines, Rules Released For Students Returning To HCPSS

Ellicott City MD

17 August, 2021

3:55 PM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — While Howard County leads the state in the percentage of residents vaccinated, there continues to be a risk that the COVID-19 virus could spread in a school, essentially requiring students and staff to be out of the building for an extended period of time, noted Howard County Public School System Superintendent Dr. Michael J. Martirano at the last school board meeting. For that reason, HCPSS will provide diagnostic testing to students and staff who display COVID-19 symptoms during the school day. Universal indoor masking also will be required in all HCPSS schools and offices, regardless of vaccination status. Masking also is required on school buses for everyone, regardless of age or vaccination status, in accordance with state and federal mandates. Masks are not required outdoors, but are still recommended for unvaccinated individuals. Students will be required to wear masks at all times when they are not eating or drinking, including when entering and exiting the cafeteria, in the lunch line, throwing trash away and after finishing their meal. Elementary schools will have assigned cafeteria seating, which will facilitate close contact identification for our younger students if contact tracing becomes necessary. Staff are exploring ways to provide separation between students at cafeteria tables. There will be some students and staff, particularly students with disabilities, who may not be able to wear a mask, Martirano said. "HCPSS staff will provide the necessary supports and accommodations to ensure those individuals participate in in-person instruction in a safe and healthy manner. In addition to masking, several other mitigation strategies will be implemented to ensure school buildings remain healthy environments for teaching and learning," Martirano said. The close contact and quarantining procedures put into place last year will remain in effect for this fall. Only unvaccinated students and adults who are identified as close contacts must quarantine. Vaccinated students and staff will not be required to quarantine unless they receive a positive test or are displaying symptoms, but are expected to monitor their symptoms closely for the 14 days. Instructional supports are in place for students who must quarantine. School breakfast and lunch will be served in the cafeteria at no cost to students throughout the entire 2021-2022 school year, any day schools are open. All meal service will be grab and go, with no self-service or a la carte items offered. However, students will have more meal choices than were available last year, and a faster meal service process has been designed to reduce the time spent in meal lines. Meals will also be available for pickup on Mondays and Thursdays by students enrolled in the Digital Education Center. In pre-kindergarten, HCPSS-issued laptops will remain at home during the first semester. Laptops will be brought to and remain at school for the second semester. In kindergarten and first grade, school laptops will primarily remain at school, while students in grades 2–12 will be expected to bring laptops back and forth to school each day.