2021-2022 School Year

January 26, 2022

To Families & Caregivers of APS Students:

Akron Public Schools has been strict, as you know, about following public health protocols. The results, for the better part of two years now, have shown our families and staff---in following these guidelines have kept our number of COVID cases relatively low. We will continue to monitor public health advisories as part of our safeguarding our students, families, faculty and staff.

The winter spike in cases did affect Northeastern Ohio. But, in aligning our safety protocols with guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to keep schools and businesses open and to keep communities safe this winter, we have been pleased to have kept our classrooms open.

One such effective plan we have followed is masking. Masking for staff and students. As COVID evolves, we find there are different messages being delivered about which masks are most effective at protecting us from the virus. I am adding this link to help answer any questions you may have.

COVID mask update

Public health experts in our county and state continue to recommend a continued focus on vaccines and on COVID testing, masking and symptom monitoring to keep each other and ourselves safe.

Akron Public Schools will continue to adjust its policies and protocols as our understanding evolves. Please know we are committed to giving our students as normal a year as possible. Our students need and deserve it. We will follow the guidance of research scientists and the CDC on the best ways to manage COVID in our district. We are striving to minimize large outbreaks and

the worst impacts of the virus on our community, especially serious illness and hospitalizations.

Superintendent Christime Fowler Mack

A Great Place for Education.

It's never too late to enroll in APS. Click here for more information!

Information for Families

What You Need to Know

Parent Handbook and Reference Guide 2021-22

A handbook is created each year to assist families with what they need to know as an Akron Public School family. The Parent Handbook and Reference Guide includes important dates, transportation information, student information and classroom requirements, health and nutrition information, policy and procedures, general information and a phone directory.

Uniform

Students will not be required to wear uniforms for the 2021-22 school year. Students will be required to follow the standard APS dress code (page 15).

Health Tips

Our Parent Handbook and Reference Guide includes health tip information on different health issues that may affect students.

General Health Information (page 19)
Head Lice (pages 16 and 17)
Immunizations (page 18)

Health and Safety

Protocols for Shift to Remote Learning

Akron Public Schools is taking steps to reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak in our schools in the 2021-2022 school year by following stringent safety protocols guided by public health professionals. Our goal is to remain in-person for the entire school year, however we are constantly evaluating factors and data relevant to the impact the virus is having on our community and our operations.

While it is most important that teaching and learning remain in person and open for the entire school year, we have a plan if adjustments need to be made. APS works closely with Summit County Public Health to guide decisions impacting the health and safety of our community and consults with the CDC and Ohio Department of Health in the event of an escalation of the outbreak that impacts student and staff attendance and well-being.

If temporary shifts to remote learning need to happen, we will advise families and staff using similar procedures as a snow day (e.g., email, all calls and social media posts) as quickly as possible. Click here to read protocols. Click here to watch the COVID update from the January 10, 2022 Akron Board of Education meeting.

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Based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and in consultation with local public health officials, we are implementing the areas listed below. A re-evaluation will occur monthly.

Assessing Symptoms

Students and staff will be required to do daily self-health checks prior to going to school. Anyone with COVID symptoms or a temperature above 100°F should stay home.
Symptom monitoring of all students/staff at school and return to home if symptomatic.
Students showing symptoms of COVID will be removed to a separate dedicated clinic and then released to parents/guardians. A COVID test kit will be provided to the parent/guardian to take home to perform a proctored COVID test that will assist in determining if the symptoms are related to a positive COVID illness.
The district will follow guidance from Summit County Public Health if a staff member or student needs to self-quarantine.

Face Coverings

All teachers/staff must wear masks unless they qualify for a medical exception
All students will be required to wear a mask while in school unless they qualify for a medical exception.
Students and staff can be outside without masks.

Cleaning

Frequent hand washing or hand sanitizing throughout the day
Hand sanitizers in classrooms and high traffic areas in school, including entrances to school
Daily frequent cleaning of high-use items (e.g., door knobs, restrooms)
Scheduled deep cleaning of schools
Educating students on proper hand washing, physical distancing, appropriate use of face masks, cough and sneeze etiquette and the importance of staying home when sick or displaying symptoms

Physical Routine Changes

Classrooms will return to normal setups. When possible, 3 feet of social distancing will be implemented.
Visitation of schools will be limited and may be restricted to only designated locations.
Sharing of supplies and materials will be minimized, and supplies/materials will be sanitized.
Floor markings and signs to encourage proper movement throughout the building will be in place.

Transportation

APS will implement the mandated federal requirements for public transportation vehicles, including school buses, as released by the United States Department of Transportation.

Transportation to School

Students are required to wear their own mask at all times. This includes at the bus stop.

Students will use hand sanitizer before entering the bus.
Students enter front doors, then sit from "back to front" so students aren't walking past other seated students.
Students will exit the bus from "front to back" so students who entered the bus last, exit first.
Students will have assigned seats. Students will be seated two per bus seat when practical. Families will be seated together whenever possible.
Students and adults will be required to wear masks while using school transportation, including school buses, METRO buses and van transportation.

Transportation to Home

Students are required to wear their own mask at all times.

Students will use hand sanitizer before entering the bus.

Students dropped off last will load first and go to the back of the bus; students who get off first will load last.
Students in the front seats leave first so students aren't walking past other seated students.

Bus Staff

Drivers will do a self check of their temperatures at work each morning and complete a symptom checklist.
Drivers are required to wear their own mask at all times.

Bus aides will be added to routes when possible to support the health and safety procedures.
All transportation staff will be provided the opportunity to receive a vaccination. Due to federal privacy laws (HIPPA), we cannot disclose personal health information regarding staff that opted to receive the vaccination.

Bus Cleaning

Increased sanitation by cleaning and disinfecting bus seats and frequently touched surfaces on the bus after each use
Circulate outside air, when practical, by keeping roof vents open, bus fans on and windows partially open

Meals and Nutrition

Meal Service

All students will be offered breakfast and lunch meals that are safe to eat. Child Nutrition will continue to follow safe food handling procedures, and these procedures are monitored by regular inspections of the kitchens by Summit County Public Health.

Food Safety and Sanitation Procedures

All kitchen staff will monitor temperatures and symptoms and do not report to work if indicated.
All kitchen staff will wear masks at all times during meal preparation and service.
All kitchen staff will follow proper protocols for hand washing, safe food handling, cleaning, and sanitation.
All kitchen surfaces will be properly cleaned and sanitized including cafeteria tables.

Students will be provided the opportunity for frequent hand washing or hand sanitizing throughout the day. Hand sanitizers will be available in classrooms and high traffic areas for use prior to eating meals.
Staff and students should maximize physical distancing as much as possible when moving through the food service line and while eating.
Once students are seated and eating meals, masks will be removed and physical distance will be maximized to the extent possible. Masks that are removed should be placed on the table/seat next to the student. Once students are finished eating, they should put their masks back on.
Students at the middle and high schools will not be required to touch the pin pads or enter a pin number to receive a meal.
Most food provided will be individually wrapped, single-serve portions. Self-service by students will be limited.

Social-Emotional and Mental Health Services

Social-Emotional Support

This last year has been a stressful time in the lives of our students and families. APS is here to support you and your children as we transition back to school.

Expanded supports will be provided for the social-emotional health of students, staff and families.
Screeners will be used to identify students who may need additional support.
Teachers will expand their use of the Ohio Department of Education Social-Emotional Learning standards into their lessons.

Expanded Wraparound Services for Families to Address Basic Needs (e.g., food, housing, mental health services)

Community resources are being shared with parents (see resource section below).
Every school has a Family Liaison and School Counselor who are there to support families with basic needs or to help answer questions about how to help your child back to school. Call your school to contact them.
Expanded Family Resource Centers (full service centers for families provided in collaboration with United Way) for Buchtel, East, Kenmore and Garfield clusters
Continued partnerships with school-based mental health partners (Red Oak, Minority Behavioral Health).
Call the After-Hours Support Center where staff provide families and students with support (homework help, social-emotional or mental health support, food) after the school day has ended.

Technology

Akron Public Schools is a 1:1 district. All students will receive a Chromebook for their use.
Each building has a Technology Support Specialist (TSS) that will provide updates, repairs and support with student and staff Chromebooks.
For parents needing assistance in paying for internet access in their home, click here for information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit program offered through the Federal Communications Commission.

Athletics

All sports programs will operate following the COVID requirements related to each sport season pertaining to skills training, practices and games/competitions in alignment with the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA).

APS Online Program

With APS Online, Akron Public Schools has been an educational leader in offering students a remote learning option since 2014.

For the 2021-22 school year, our innovative APS Online program will be the only option for families wanting to have their children learn 100% remotely. We will not be offering the remote learning program used last year where our APS teachers provided the instruction; all of our APS teachers will be needed in our school buildings since we are returning to full-time in-person learning five days per week.

To learn more about APS Online and the enhancements being offered this year by the online Edmentum teachers and APS mentors, go to: https://sites.google.com/apslearns.org/aps-online-program/aps-online-home

Questions and Answers

Families may have questions and we want to provide answers. Some frequently asked questions are listed below. If you have a question that is not listed, please reach out to your child's school, call the APS Engagement Center at 330.761.2810 or complete this form. Your questions will be answered within 24 hours.

Will students be three feet apart while in the building?

Students in elementary grades will be at least three feet apart. In grade levels where vaccines are available for students 5 years and older, three feet of social distancing will be maintained where possible.

Our classrooms and other school areas have been properly cleaned and sanitized with a two-step anti-microbial treatment that deters the spread of the COVID virus. The two-step anti-microbial treatment is applied every 90 days in general classrooms and large group areas. It is applied every 30 days in all restrooms and on high-touch surfaces such as door handles, handrails, etc. Standard daily cleaning routines have been adjusted to meet the needs of continued health and safety.

What are quarantine procedures being followed?

The district will follow the Classroom-Based Exposure information regarding quarantine for COVID issued by the Ohio Department of Health and Summit County Public Health. Guidance states students and adults in K-12 schools may continue to attend in-person school, even during a normal quarantine period, if the following conditions are met: universal mask-wearing; social distancing; hand washing; identification and management of students exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, which will occur with our Akron Children’s Hospital (ACH) school health staff in school clinics; and routine environmental cleaning and disinfection protocols that are already in place.

How will the new COVID variants impact plans and decisions that are made?

Akron Public Schools is mindful of the potential changes that may occur with COVID-19 and the many variants that have been identified. We will continue to follow guidance from Summit County Public Health experts and adjust our plans as necessary.

Will students have to wear uniforms in K-8?

No, students will not be required to wear uniforms for the 2021-22 school year. Students will be required to follow the standard APS dress code.

What will the procedure be if my student needs to miss due to quarantine/isolation?

Teachers will work closely with families' unique needs during a quarantine to make sure they receive school work and are able to continue learning.

Will the After-Hours Support Center still be open to assist students and families?

Yes. The APS plus After-Hours Support Center will remain open and staffed with high-quality educators, tutors and other professionals that will use Google Meet and phone calls to assist students and families with a variety of services.

What are the mask requirements for teachers, students and staff? What are the consequences of not wearing masks as required?

All students and staff will be required to wear a mask unless there is a documented medical exception. Students will not be permitted to remain at school if they refuse to wear a mask after teachers and principals direct the student multiple times to comply with the district rule and a conference will be scheduled with the family.

If students receive medication at school, how will that be handled differently to ensure the safe handling of medication and drinking cups?

Students requiring medication will report to the school clinic at the established time to take assigned medication following the health standards. Procedures have been set up to properly address students that are well versus students that demonstrate illness.

Will parents know if my student’s teacher was vaccinated?

Due to federal privacy laws (HIPAA), we cannot disclose personal health information regarding staff.

If a family member living in the same residential location is diagnosed with COVID, can a student still attend school?

Students should not attend in-person classes if they are exposed to COVID-19 outside the classroom.

All students and adults who meet the definition of close contact with someone with COVID-19 should be notified of their exposure based on normal public health and school policies. Read more here.

Will the school provide COVID testing for students or staff? Will schools assist in providing COVID vaccines to students when available?

Your school can provide staff or families locations within the community to receive COVID testing. At this time, APS does not provide COVID testing for all students and staff on site.