Schools set plans, precautions for fall semester
School districts around Oklahoma have spent the summer preparing for the start of school.
Everything is different this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Every district has a plan; every guideline is in motion.
“Our children have had unfinished learning and learning gaps over the summer and even last spring ,” said state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. “We need them back, but we have to do this in a smart way.”
Approximately $145 million in federal CARES Act funding will help superintendent s afford the necessary upgrades to protect staff and students.
“Schools will not magically have extra resources like personal protective equipment, sanitizers, cleaning supplies and substitute teachers ,” said Oklahoma Educators Association President, Alecia Priest.
The state Education Department is encouraging safety measures in schools, but mandating none for the state's 700,000 students.
Many metro area school districts a remand ating masks. Those schools are as follows: Deer Creek Public Schools, Edmond Public Schools, El Reno Public Schools, Jones Public Schools, Midwest CityDel City Public Schools, Mustang Public Schools, Norman Public Schools, Oklahoma City Public Schools, Oakdale School, Putnam City Public Schools and Piedmont Public Schools.
“We don't want to look back on this and say we wish we had done something else; we wish we had done more,” said Piedmont Superintendent James White.
The state's largest school district, Oklahoma City Public Schools, got the largest amount of CARES Act funding — $17.3 million.
The district will spend a chunk on personal protective equipment for staff and for students when they eventually go back to
in-person instruction in November.
This week, the Oklahoma City district moved the school start date from Aug. 10 to Aug. 31.
The district also decided the first nine weeks of instruction will be online only.
“If someone wants ( a mask) and doesn't have one, we want to be able to provide that,” said Oklahoma City Deputy Superintendent, James Brown. “That's a significant investment we are using the CARES Act money for.”
Deer Creek Schools is also purchasing protection for students.
The district will spend a portion of their $205,000 CARES Act dollars on masks and f ace covering neck gaiters.
Other districts are providing personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff only.
Putnam City will spend more than $220,000 on protective supply kits for teachers.
Edmond Public Schools will do the same, plus another $14,000 for thermometers in every classroom.
“Teachers who need a face shield, clear face shield, we'll be providing those. Teachers who need a mask, we'll be providing those,” said Edmond Superintendent Bret Towne. “Whatever they need in that arena, we will be providing them.”
Western Heights won't open the doors to students in August.
They are going completely virtual.
The district has used the lion's share of their $1.3 million federal dollars on the purchase of laptop computers for the district's 3,400 students.
Western Heights is buying PPE and disinfecting supplies for educators who will teach in empty classrooms.
“Teachers will be required to teach out of their classrooms,” said Western Heights Superintendet Mannix Barnes. “When they enter the building, they will be wearing masks. When they enter the hallway they will be wearing masks. They'll be eating lunch in their classroom.”
Minco Public Schools expects to spend about $20,000 on masks for staff and students.
The district will also invest in online curriculum so students don't miss out on learning in the fall like they did last spring.
“We walked out of here for spring break, and the next thing you know we were trying to implement an online curriculum that we had not been doing,” said Minco High School Principal Clint Shirley. “What we're planning on doing this year is having our online curriculum be part of our everyday curriculum, so if we do close, we just flow right into that.”
Across the board, superintendents are trying to get creative with federal funding.
Shawnee Public Schools plans to use part of their $1.2 million for antibody testing for staff.
Jones Public Schools will disinfect classrooms every hour using a portion of their $167,000.
Norman Public Schools is doing temperature checks twice a day with part of their $2 million cut.
Public schools in the metro area were awarded about one third of the CARES Act dollars distributed in Oklahoma, between $40 million and $50 million.
The money was awarded based on number of students living below the poverty line.
All districts are are using a portion for masks, disinfecting procedures and technology.
None of the state's school districts are 100% certain what school will look like this year.
Editor' s note: The Oklahoma Media Center, launched by Local Media Foundation with financial support from Inasmuch Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation, is a collaborative of 18 Oklahoma newsrooms that includes print, broadcast and digital partners. The OMC's first project is Changing Course: Education & COVID. This story is part of that effort.