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We know our students, staff, and community are excited to start the new school year and have been waiting for our return to school safety protocols. We also understand our community is passionate and has strong beliefs on the issue of masks. Regardless of your opinion on the use of masks in schools, we know that what we all want is what’s best for our students, staff, and our community. While we do not wish to distract from the excitement of a new school year, we also know that parents and students are eager to know the protocols that we will utilize when school starts on Thursday, August 19.
As we begin the 2021-22 school year, we will continue our practice of relying on local public health officials for guidance on safety protocols and utilizing Hilliard’s COVID-19 data to inform the decisions we make. We will closely monitor our community’s transmission rates, our students and staff’s positive case rates, and the number of quarantines of both students and staff. If data trends determine we need to make changes to any of our protocols, we have the ability to adjust swiftly and in a targeted fashion. Today’s decision is data-driven, and as data shifts in either direction, our protocols could also change.
At the August 9 Board of Education meeting, the Board authorized the Superintendent to make decisions on the use of masks on a classroom, building-wide, grade level, or district-wide basis. They also charged the Superintendent with notifying the Board of any such changes within 24 hours and making regular reports to the Board on district COVID data.
With regards to the use of masks, effective August 19, 2021, we will begin the school year as follows:
As you are probably aware, public health officials strongly recommend the use of masks by all individuals entering school buildings, regardless of vaccination status. Those same officials also encourage all eligible individuals to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Hilliard City Schools echoes these recommendations. For students who have the option as to whether or not to wear a mask, we would ask that families educate themselves on the Ohio Department of Health’s quarantine guidelines. These guidelines direct schools to make quarantine determinations based on the use of masks and vaccination status. It will be important that families take this into consideration when they decide if their 7th-12th grade student will wear a mask at school.
As we continue into the school year, any district-wide change in protocols regarding the use of masks or other considerations will be made based upon a review of the following data:
Additionally, we will also continue the same safety protocols and mitigation strategies in our schools from last year.
Mitigation strategies
Transportation
Building protocols
Foodservice
Contact tracing and quarantine
I can assure you that nobody is excited about the fact that we are once again faced with these difficult decisions. Please know that they have been made after a great deal of deliberation and with a focus on student safety and our ability to keep students in school every day. What I do know is that if we, as a community, make a collective commitment to the strategies that have been shown to reduce the risk of COVID transmission, a full return to “normalcy” is possible.
Please remember, the guidance school districts are getting can change quickly. While these are the protocols in place today, if information or guidance from health officials changes, our plans could also change.
David Stewart
Hilliard City Schools Superintendent
Since the beginning of Covid, Hilliard City Schools has worked with our local health officials to guide our safety practices. District Leadership and the Board of Education remain committed to the safety and well-being of our students and staff. District leaders will continue to analyze local data and safety procedures with health officials.
At this time, we are in the process of finalizing our plans for the opening of the school year. We are waiting to receive and review all state and local recommendations. However, we will require masks on school transportation per a federal regulation that is in place until at least September 13, 2021.
Please note, there is a special Board of Education meeting on August 4, 2021; however, this will be held in executive session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, promotion, or compensation of a public employee or official. Therefore, there will be no time for public comment, nor will there be any action taken after the executive session. The next regular Board meeting is on August 9.
If you find yourself with a few extra minutes these days, why not check HomeAccess to confirm your contact information is up to date. It is especially important we have an accurate MAIN/PRIMARY phone number listed as well as an e-mail address. These pieces of contact information are used by the district and your child’s school building for emergency and important notification messages, like snow days! You can also view and sign off on the student handbook and purchase the Technology Protection Plan for any student in grades K-12. August 19 will be here sooner than you think, so why not do this all now, and not have to worry about it before the first day of school? Here are some links to help:
View the Technology Protection Plan (to enroll/purchase, go to: https://MyPaymentsPlus.com )
How to update Registration Information/Contacts and more in HomeAccess