Celina preps for in-person school

CELINA - School district officials plan to reopen buildings to students on Aug. 26, the first day of classes, superintendent Ken Schmiesing announced via an open letter and video posted to the district's social media.

District officials believe the benefits of having the students return to the classroom "far outweigh a decision that would keep the students isolated at home at this point in time," according to the letter outlining the the key elements of the reopening plan.

School board members will vote on the reopening and face-covering plans at 6 p.m. Monday in the Education Complex auditorium.

"We are excited to have the students back in the classroom, particularly for their education but also for their mental health and well being," Schmiesing said.

That being said, Schmiesing acknowledged risks relating to having in-person classes.

"We realize that there will be some risks for students and staff as we return to the classroom. However, we are taking precautions," he said.

Families with strong concerns or questions about in-person classes should call their child's building principal or Schmiesing by Aug. 1. That feedback will inform a remote-learning policy officials are creating and plan to release next month, Schmiesing said.

All staff must wear either a face mask or shield unless it is unsafe to do so or would significantly interfere with the learning process. However, staff do not have to wear the coverings if working alone in an assigned work area or when situated more than 6 feet from students, such as when standing at the front of the classroom, the letter reads.

"With the heat that we encounter at the start of the school year, our warm classrooms, which are not air conditioned, present another set of circumstances where a face covering may be an unhealthy solution," Schmiesing pointed out in the video.

Officials recommend that students in grades 3-12 wear a face mask or shield, but Schmiesing said the decision ultimately rests with families.

Students, staff or volunteers who show COVID-19 symptoms will be given a mask and wait in a space separate from the nurse's office or other areas where students may go, the letter reads.

"If we happen to have a positive case of COVID-19 we will continue to work with the department of health in terms of looking to see which students or staff members may need to be quarantined," Schmiesing said.

The policy covers student-health issues that are not diagnosed as COVID-19.

"The duration of the home-stay for a child sent home with a fever and who is then fever-free for 24 hours (without medication) and has improvement of all other symptoms is 24 hours," the letter reads. "To return to school, the child should be transported to school by a parent and must be checked by school personnel. Temperatures may be taken upon return."

All students, staff and volunteers are asked to complete health checks before coming to school.

District officials will regularly sanitize all areas of buildings and buses, and hand sanitizers will be available in hallways and classrooms.

"In place of drinking fountains we will have bottle-fill stations for student and staff use," Schmiesing said.

Instruction will be provided to staff and students on personal hygiene practice, such as coughing or sneezing into one's elbow.

Cafeterias will serve breakfast and lunch to students.

"Each of our school buildings present a different physical situation to consider when we are serving student meals," the letter states. "The students and staff of each building will receive building specific information in regards to their routine for serving and eating meals."

The reopening plan covers Celina City Schools, Mercer County Head Start and Tri Star Career Compact and was developed in cooperation with the Mercer County Health District, according to the letter.

"Once again I want to state that Celina City Schools administrators do strongly believe that for the educational, the mental health and the well-being of our students, it is much better for those students to be learning and be seated in our classrooms," Schmiesing said.