Reopening Forsyth Schools Draft Guidelines Released For Fall

FORSYTH COUNTY, GA — Forsyth County Schools published the Draft Guidelines for Opening Schools Wednesday in an effort to begin to outline the district’s plans for August. The district said this is a preliminary starting point and will be revised over the next two months as it receives more input and updated information.

The Georgia Department of Education and Georgia Department of Public Health are releasing Georgia's K-12 Recovery Plan – guidance to help schools plan for a safe return to in-person instruction this fall.

The guidelines are intended to ensure the safety of students, staff, and families while remaining flexible, responsive, and achievable in the K-12 setting. The departments stress these are guidelines, not mandates, and are adaptive to multiple scenarios. School districts should review the guidance in consultation with their local public health departments and choose which methods to adopt.

The plan addresses practicing prevention, transporting students, entering school buildings, serving meals, transitioning between classes and spaces within the school, conducting large group gatherings, supporting teaching and learning, and protecting vulnerable populations in areas of substantial, minimal to moderate, and low to no spread of COVID-19.

Based on the latest CDC recommendations, Forsyth County Schools has adopted the following guidelines:

• The school nurse will be the school’s main COVID-19 point of contact. Periodic health screenings of students and employees may be conducted including random temperature checks. Students and employees with COVID-19 symptoms or a temperature of 100.4 and above will be immediately isolated and sent home. Local health officials will be notified immediately for guidance on next steps, including closures.
• All students and employees must stay home if they have COVID-19 symptoms, tested positive for COVID-19 or had close contact with a person with COVID-19 within the last 14 days. Employees and parents/guardians are asked to self-report to the school nurse. A written physician’s release will be required for return. Quarantined students will have access to their education through itslearning; Forsyth County Schools will not have perfect attendance awards or programs for the school year.
• Frequent hand washing breaks will take place daily in all elementary schools where students will be required to wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds. Middle and high school students and employees will be reminded to wash their hands throughout the day for the same length of time. All will be reminded to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and to place the tissue in the trash and immediately wash their hands.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be available throughout each building. Students and staff are also encouraged to bring hand sanitizer from home. To promote COVID-19 protective measures, signs will be posted in highly visible locations and schools will broadcast daily messages. Schools and departments will develop a schedule for increased cleaning and disinfection. Ventilation systems will be monitored on a regular basis to ensure proper operation and the increased circulation of outdoor air as much as possible. Buses will be cleaned and disinfected after every bus route. Students and employees may wear masks; they will not be provided by the school or district.
• Based upon classroom configuration and to the extent possible, student desks will face in the same direction and students seated at tables will sit on the same side. The sharing of items that are difficult to clean or disinfect will be discouraged. While ensuring the safety of children, to the extent possible, students will eat in classrooms. Traditional water fountains will be closed; water fill stations will be open. Students and staff are encouraged to bring water from home. Non-essential student movement throughout the school day will be limited. Outdoor recess will be continued but the number of students gathered in one area will be limited. Some playground equipment may be prohibited for student use.
• Nonessential visitors, volunteers and activities involving external groups or organizations will be limited. In lieu of field trips, assemblies, special performances, and school wide meetings or events, including open house and curriculum nights, virtual activities will be pursued. Parent/guardian teacher conferences will be held virtually, if possible. Guidance from the Georgia High School Association will be followed for school athletics.

To read the draft and share your feedback through the survey which closes June 17, visit online.

Related:

• School Reopening Plan In Works By GA Superintendent, Gov. Kemp
• In-Person Classes This Fall At GA Schools: Guidelines Released