Preparing For The Return Of HCPSS Students To The Classroom

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — School districts returning to in-person learning not only have to map out how to accommodate for the influx of students in the classroom and lunchroom during a global pandemic, they also much prepare their buildings to meet safety protocol, too.

Each school building will be inspected and must meet a school readiness checklist before the first group of students return March 1. At facilities-checklist.hcpss.org, community members, families and staff members can view the results of each school’s readiness inspection. There are 25 inspection items including:

• PPE for students and staff (masks, face shields, gloves etc., as applicable)
• Cleaning (daily cleaning procedures and supplies, and hand sanitizer stations and supplies)
• HVAC enhancements
• Health room and isolation room supplies and procedures
• Socially-distanced space arrangements (classrooms, eating areas and staff spaces)
• Signage for social distancing and health/safety practices (bathrooms, entrances, hallways, classrooms, cafeterias)
• Physical barriers in place (plexiglass, tape etc., where applicable)

"At this point, our cleaning supply stock looks good and will get us at least through the end of this school year," HCPSS spokesperson Brian Bassett told Patch.

Students are required to wear a face covering at all times while on the bus and at school except while eating. A reusable three-ply cotton face mask and face shield will be provided to students who also can bring a mask from home.

To ensure students are healthy enough to attend in-person instruction, parents or guardians are to perform a symptom check every day before the student leaves home, school officials said.

To accommodate for the large group of students that start arriving March 1, school start times will be adjusted to begin 20 minutes later than pre-pandemic start times. Classtimes and the length of classes will be adjusted to accommodate for this, the district noted.

To avoid congregating in the hallway or being in close proximity to each other, students will not have access to their lockers in the hallway or in the locker room.

Students still must have the required state immunizations in order to return to school.