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Matt Holder, Superintendent

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2020-2021 Sulphur School District Return to Learn School Plan

I know you all have been anxiously waiting for information about the upcoming school year. With the situation constantly changing, I’ve been hesitant about releasing a plan. Please know that this is our current plan, but that things could change based on the COVID-19 numbers fluctuating and mandates from the state. Any updates or changes will be released through our e-notes system. 

The health and safety of our students and staff is our number one priority. There are several changes that the administrative team has been working on to ensure that we are providing our students with a safe and functional learning environment. 

School Calendar 

Classes are scheduled to begin August 12 as scheduled. We plan to follow the 2020-2021 school calendar. If there are any changes, you will be notified via e-notes. 

Daily Start/End Times 

A change that I want to make everyone aware of is the staggered start times that will be implemented to alleviate traffic and reduce crowds around the campus.
The new start and end times will be: 

Elementary School - 7:50-3:00  

Intermediate School - 8:00-3:10

Middle School - 8:15-3:15

High School - 8:30-3:35

 

 

Social Spacing 

Measured six-foot markings will designate spacing in common areas to aid in social
distancing. Routes in the hallways will be marked with spacing as well as in the cafeterias, libraries and shelter areas. The principals are working on reducing numbers in the cafeteria, reducing hallway traffic, and other measures for their specific buildings. Changes in the classrooms for social distancing may include: reduced desk capacity, spacing and orientation of desks to all face forward, common materials moved out for additional space, etc. 

Screening 

Parents will be expected to screen their child each morning answering the following
questions. The safety of your child and our staff is of utmost importance as we return to school. During the school year, we are asking you to daily check your child for signs of COVID-19.
Below is a checklist of statements you may use as a reference. If your child exhibits any of the following signs, indicating by answering yes to the questions below, please keep them at home. This checklist must be used separately for each child attending school from your household. You can print a checklist/log from our website at â€‹www.sulphurk12.org. 

1. Does your child have a temperature of 100 degrees or more today?

2. Does your child have a sore throat? 

3. Does your child have a cough?

4. Does your child have a loss of smell or taste?

5. Does your child have shortness of breath?

6. Does your child have close contact with a positive COVID case? 

7. Does anyone in your household have a fever of 100 or more today?

Designated isolation areas will be identified in each building for students who exhibit symptoms during the day or are running a temperature above 99.5. They will remain in this area until a guardian has picked them up from the school. Any student who is sent home due to fever will not be allowed back in school until one of the following: â€‹1)​ negative COVID-19 test and 48 hours fever free without medication or â€‹2​) must be 72 hours fever free without medication, have no other symptoms and must have no known exposure to COVID-19 or â€‹3​) if exposed to COVID-19, must be 14 days fever free with no use of medication and no other symptoms. â€‹ 

Masks 

Students and staff will be encouraged to wear a mask whenever social distancing cannot be achieved in the building. Teachers and students are recommended to wear a mask whenever they are within 6 feet of another student and teachers for more than 10 minutes. 

Sanitization 

Shared items will either be removed or sanitized between each use. Staff will clean the desk areas and commonly touched surfaces multiple times throughout the day. Students will be encouraged to use the water bottle fill stations instead of conventional drinking fountains. After the instructional day ends, all areas will be sanitized and cleaned thoroughly for the next day. Hydrostatic sprayers will be used daily to disinfect building areas. 

Visitors 

For the safety and health of our students, visitors will be restricted. An appointment should be made by phone if parents need to meet with the teacher or principal. All visitors will be screened prior to being allowed access to the hallways or the building, if deemed necessary. If they cannot socially distance, a mask will be provided to the visitor prior to accessing the building. 

Extra-curricular Activities 

​Sulphur Public Schools will follow the guidance of the OSSAA and our local health departments while supporting our students in their athletic and activity programs. These programs will
be available as allowed by our current status with COVID-19. Extra-curricular activities will not be available for distance learners. 

Transportation 

​Sulphur Public Schools will continue transportation services during the 2020-2021 school year. Due to the insurmountable difficulty in social distancing on a school bus, it will be a parent
and student decision as to whether they wish to take the risk of COVID-19 exposure to ride the bus. We will sanitize the buses in between each route and each evening in preparation for transportation. When possible, all windows will be opened to allow for airflow through the bus and students will be spaced as much as possible. 

Child Nutrition 

We will continue to provide child nutrition services for our onsite students. In the event of district closure for medium or long term, we plan to provide grab and go lunches similar to what was provided during the 2019-2020 school year. 

Open House 

We will NOT be having our traditional site open house night. This is to ensure that we do not have large crowds in the building and there’s no way to ensure social distancing. Some of the buildings are discussing other options as a way for students to become acclimated with the school and their teacher(s). Details will be released by the sites. 

Distance Learning 

We believe onsite, in person education is best. However, we realize some students will be unable to attend based on their circumstances. Students may be utilizing one or all these delivery methods during the 2020-2021 school year depending on the circumstances with COVID-19. Extracurriculars will not be available. Distance learning may be asynchronous (student and teacher not online at same time) or synchronous (student and teacher are online at the same time). Our primary learning management software will be Google Classroom, and it is within this general management system all our online learning activities will be communicated. Distance learning students will be able to remain Sulphur students. Please contact the building principals for more information regarding Distance Learning at Sulphur Public Schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

Attendance 

Students receiving onsite instruction will have attendance taken daily per district policy. Students receiving distance learning instruction will have attendance taken based on connection with their teacher each day.
Students who do obtain COVID-19 will be allowed to use a distance learning model while at home. The days they’re absent will not count against them. 

Conclusion 

Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and support as we navigate through these ever changing times. We at Sulphur Public Schools are eager to get students back on campus and start a new year. 

 

Matt Holder 

Superintendent 

Sulphur Public Schools 

Matt Holder

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Contact Matt Holder

School Phone:
580-622-2061 ext 501