All Indianapolis Public School students that choose to physically return to classrooms in August — and as many as one-third are not expected to — will be required to wear masks.
Those who choose the district's virtual option have one week to enroll in the program. Registration forms are available on the district's website.
IPS released its plan to try and safely reopen schools in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic Friday. It comes a week after the Marion County Health Department released guidance for all 11 districts within the county, including face masks for all students in sixth grade or above, and just days after President Donald Trump notched up a pressure campaign to get the nation's classrooms reopened.
On Wednesday, Trump put the nation's schools on notice via Twitter, saying he may cut their funding if they don't reopen their classrooms this fall.
Most, if not all, schools in Indiana were already pushing ahead with plans to reopen. Around the country, though, some districts are planning for partial reopening, or a continuation of online instruction for all students.
Schools across the country closed in the spring as cases of COVID-19 spiked. Gov. Eric Holcomb ordered Hoosier schools closed in mid-March. Since then, state and local officials have been looking at how to get schools reopened in time for the new school year.
IPS, and some other districts, are going beyond what was required by the county health department.
Health department says: Masks will be required in Marion County schools for teachers, students grade six and above
IPS said it will require face coverings for all students and teachers, except in cases where health conditions make wearing a face covering a risk or when students are performing tasks that cannot be completed while wearing a face-covering such as eating or drinking.
Students who are too young or unable to remove their own masks — physically disabled students and preschool students — may not be required to wear them.
IPS will provide all students one reusable mask, but families are expected to supplement with their own Superintendent Aleesia Johnson said. Students will be required to wear them on school buses and throughout the day.
The district is also establishing new walk zones to limit the number of students on school buses and will employ crossing guards at a number of schools to facilitate safe commuting.
The district is also putting in place additional safety protocols, such as ending the use of traditional water fountains. Schools are being equipped with touchless water fountains and students will receive a district-issued water bottle to keep at school.
While meals will still be served in cafeterias, students in grade K-8 will eat in their classrooms. High school students will still eat inside school cafeterias but meal times will be staggered "to ensure proper social distancing."
The district said it will also work to maintain social distancing in schools, with at least three feet between all students and staff. Desks will be spaced apart and facing in the same direction and passing periods will be staggered to limit the number of students in hallways and common areas at any one time.
District officials said they know some families will still not feel comfortable returning to a school environment. A recent survey of families found as many as one-third interested in a full-time virtual option, should IPS provide it.
That option will be available to all students, but those who choose it cannot switch back-and-forth to in-person instruction.
K-8 students who choose the online option must commit to it for the first quarter, at a minimum. High school students who choose it are doing so for the entire first semester.
All students who enroll in remote learning will receive a district-issued digital device.
The enrollment window for the online option is open for one week, from today until July 17. The registration form is available on the IPS website at www.myips.org.
Like most school districts, IPS is employing enhanced cleaning procedures and restricting all non-essential visitors and volunteers.
Schools throughout Marion County are working on their own, similar plans for a return to school that comes in less than three weeks for some.
The start dates for Marion County's 11 public school districts are:
- Beech Grove City Schools: July 30
- Franklin Township Community Schools: Aug. 3
- Indianapolis Public Schools: Aug. 3
- Decatur Township Schools: Aug. 3
- Lawrence Township Schools: Aug. 3
- Perry Township Schools: July 29
- Pike Township Schools: Aug. 4
- Warren Township Schools: July 29
- Washington Township Schools: July 30
- Wayne Township Schools: July 29
- School Town of Speedway: Aug. 4
While districts may choose to go above and beyond, all Marion County schools will follow policies put forth by the Marion County Health Department in a series of recommendationslast week, which included that students be spaced six feet apart in classrooms when possible and teachers kept at least six feet from students. Students should be kept with the same group of students, in the same room, as much as possible and given assigned seats to aid in contact tracing, should a case of the coronavirus occur inside a school building.
The health department guidelines include:
- Nonessential visitors not be allowed in schools
- Personal transportation whenever possible
- Assigned seats on school buses and distancing when possible
- Hand washing or sanitizing required at arrival, before and after recess, before and after eating and after using the restroom.
- Regular cleaning of high-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces
- Remove attendance incentives
- All sick students be fever-free for 72 hours before returning to school
- Any students testing positive for the coronavirus stay out of school for 10 days since symptoms appeared or positive test (in asymptomatic cases)
This story will be updated.
Call IndyStar education reporter Arika Herron at 317-201-5620 or email her at Arika.Herron@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ArikaHerron.
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