After the longest and most stressful spring break in history, area school students and teachers began returning to actual classrooms last week to navigate their way through a new normal.

Schools across the state did not reopen after spring break in March under an emergency declaration from Gov. Kevin Stitt in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

When the state board of education declined to issue mandatory guidelines regarding school reopening plans last month, local districts implemented their own plans to allow students and teachers to return to classrooms as safely as possible.

Last week, as some county schools began to reopen, the risk of community spread of COVID-19 was downgraded from moderate (orange) to low (yellow) in Kingfisher County on the Oklahoma State Department of Health weekly alert map.

The map is updated each Friday based on a rolling seven-day average of new daily cases reported in the county.

All schools have instituted stringent cleaning and sanitation procedures, often involving building foggers involving building foggers and misters, hand sanitizer stations and other extraordinary measures.

All schools also have protocols in place to check temperatures of every student and staff member at the door, utilizing everything from high tech infrared cameras to handheld touchless thermometers.

All schools have personal protective equipment (PPEs) available for students and staff, but whether or in what situations face coverings are required differs from district to district.

All schools offer parents the option of virtual classes for some grade levels or a blended combination of virtual and in-person learning in lieu of actual school attendance.

And all schools note in their reopening plans that current protocols are subject to change as conditions warrant to protect the safety of students and staff.

As Kingfisher Supt. Jason Sternberger noted:

“We’re all doing the best we can under difficult circumstances to get kids back into the traditional classroom while keeping everyone as safe as possible.”

School reopening dates and their current face covering requirements include:

Dover and Hennessey both started their semesters last Thursday. Hennessey requires masks of faculty, staff and students on campus and in school vehicles. Dover allows face coverings and other PPE but does not require it.

Kingfisher and Lomega both start Wednesday, Aug. 12. Kingfisher requires masks of students and staff, but gives teachers discretion to allow them to be removed when age groups, activities and social distancing ability warrants.

Lomega recommends face coverings but leaves the decision of whether to require them to the discretion of teachers.

Okarche starts Thursday, Aug. 13 and recommends face coverings, but does not require them. Social distancing measures are in place.

Crescent starts Tuesday, Aug. 18, and recommends face coverings when Logan County is at the green or yellow alert levels (currently yellow). Masks will be required if the county alert level is upgraded to orange.

Cashion starts Wednesday, Aug. 19, and requires masks on buses and other school vehicles and other situations when social distancing isn’t feasible.