The Ponca City Board of Education approved revisions on Monday night to the 2021-2022 Return to Learn Plan.
Some highlights summarizing the Return to Learn Plan to help keep students, staff and patrons safe include:
• Pursuant to SB 658, schools, universities, and technology centers cannot implement a mask mandate on school property unless the Governor declares a state of emergency. However, the CDC recommends masking indoors for unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals, and the appropriate wearing of masks will be highly encouraged in all indoor settings with a risk level above the yellow risk level.
• The OSDH will continue to issue required, mandatory isolations for positive cases.
• If a student or staff member tests positive, PCPS will conduct a contact tracing investigation and parents of close contacts will be notified. Parents of close contacts will be given the following choice for their child:
1. Self-quarantine at home and the District will provide distance learning OR
2. No home quarantine and monitor for symptoms
The CDC recommends close contact home quarantines for unvaccinated individuals.
The District will utilize key prevention strategies for mitigating the spread of COVID-19:
1. Masks are highly encouraged in all indoor settings, but not required pursuant to SB 658. The CDC recommends masking indoors for unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals.
2. Physical Distancing as Much as Possible – Grouping/Cohorting
3. Handwashing and Respiratory Etiquette
4. Cleaning and Maintaining Facilities
5. Contact Tracing in Combination with OSDH when students, staff, and patrons are exposed to positive cases. The CDC recommends close contact quarantines for unvaccinated individuals. The OSDH will issue mandatory, required isolations of positive cases for unvaccinated individuals.
Superintendent Shelley Arrott stated, “At the end of the day, our best chance of keeping everyone safe and keeping students in school is all about the choices we make. The district encourages masking in all indoor facilities when risk levels are high, quarantining when exposed to a case, and eligible individuals getting vaccinated. Our number one priority is the safety of our students, staff, and patrons.”
The full report can be viewed here https://www.pcps.us/…/August%20BOE%20Approved…
