District Releases 2021-22 Reopening Plan

The Crawford County R-1 School District has released its 2021-22 school reopening plan and the measures put in place to mitigate COVID-19.

The plan was approved by the school board on Aug. 12.

Masking will only be required on buses per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order.

If transmission levels reach a “concerning rate” the policy may be revisited.

Students and staff are encourage to use face masks to whatever extent they are comfortable with.

Criticism of anyone who chooses to wear a face mask is prohibited. 

Students who test positive for COVID-19 or identify as close contacts must quarantine for at least 10 days.

The district said the plan is based on the most current information available and changes could be made.

According to the district, only 39 confirmed cases were reported during the 2020-21 school year, representing 4% of the student population.

None of the cases were traced to contact at school.

“The low transmission rate is a credit to the various safety and mitigation measures that were implemented at each building during the 2020-21 school year,” according to the report.

Crawford County R-1 says it remains committed to maintaining in-person learning and implementing various safety measures.

The district will continue to do daily screening; minimize interaction through staggered lunch times and alternate common space usage; keep students in cohorts to the extent possible; encourage physical distancing; avoid large gatherings that do not allow for social distancing and develop plans to respond to changes in the transmission level.

Arrival/Dismissal

Kindergarten through eighth grade arrival will be car lane only to reduce the number of people entering the building at the elementary and middle school.

Parents will remain in their vehicles.

Students will go straight to their classroom or a designated area upon arrival.

Superintendent Dr. Kyle Gibbs told the Independent News in June that keeping students from congregating in large groups before the first bell helped reduce discipline slips.

High school students will similarly arrive and head to their first class.

For dismissal, parents will pull up in designated pick-up spots, show their pick-up cards and sent out of the building.

Athletics

The district will continue to monitor the health of student-athletes, limit interaction and contact when possible and increase sanitation protocols.

Breakfast

Grades K-4 will eat breakfast in the cafeteria with spacing. All other grades will be grab and go. 

Classroom

Students will be spaced to practice social distancing; taught appropriate hygiene; keep their supplies for their own use; and monitored for illness.

The school will take measures for cleaning devices and supplies.

Cleaning/Hygiene

Routine cleaning and hygiene will be practiced; hand sanitizer will be available to everyone and an electrostatic sprayer will be used in high traffic areas.

Buses will be sprayed at least twice per week.

The district has had air filtration devices by Global Plasma Solutions installed throughout both campuses GPS attaches ions to particles and kills airborne viruses. 

Since the school will be in session just four days per week, a deep cleaning will be held on Mondays.

Health Services

Faculty and staff will be trained to recognize COVID-19 symptoms and parents are encouraged to screen students prior to sending them to school.

Prior to returning to school, families and/or students must consult with a school nurse, complete a reentry questionnaire and provide documentation from a physician. 

The district will not implement regular screening programs.

Vaccinations

Vaccines are not required, but anyone 12 or older may receive one. 

School nurses can coordinate a time for parents to take students to a local BJC partner clinic.

Fully vaccinated students and staff identified as close contacts will not be required to quarantine.