District: Masks will be optional

Online learning option to continue

Euclid Schools officials recently announced the details of the district’s return-to-school plan, which will continue the in-person five-day learning format the district returned to in early spring, but officials are currently planning that masks be optional for both staff and students.

The district started out the last school year with a fully virtual learning format, transitioned to a hybrid learning mode over the winter, and then returned to five-day classroom learning in late March with a strict mask requirement in place.

For the 2021-22 school year, which officially starts Aug. 17, Euclid Schools intends to keep its virtual learning academy in place as an option for families who prefer to keep their students learning online. The virtual academy will have a limited number of seats, and families are required to apply for admission.

While masks are optional, the district will continue to utilize several other COVID-19 mitigation strategies.

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“Our buildings and grounds team has gone above and beyond to keep our staff and students safe for our return. The district has done more than any other district in our region to put precautions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep our students, staff, and families safe and healthy,” said Director of Public Relations Darryle Torbert.

“Over the past year, the schools have used federal funding to install air ionization units, which are proven to kill COVID-19 and other pathogens within our schools’ HVAC units,” he added. “We have also used federal funds to install thermal imaging cameras to monitor the temperatures of all people entering the buildings. Anyone with a temperature above 100.4 degrees is escorted to a quarantine room — and monitored for symptoms. Our classes and buildings will be deep-cleaned regularly.”