In the wake of a 4-3 vote by the State Board of Education last week declining to issue mandatory statewide coronavirus regulations, county school districts are working to finalize local plans for starting the 2020-21 school year in a few weeks.

However, “finalize” might not be the operative word since the rapidly changing landscape of community spread of COVID-19 infection means that plans are fluid and subject to change up to the first day of school and even beyond.

“With the day-to-day changes to the virus status we will need to adjust as needed and as issues come up or evolve in our community and school district,” Okarche Supt. Josh Sumrall said.

Most school districts will be asking their respective boards of education to adopt general frameworks that provide for protocol and requirements for a wide range of contingencies.

Those plans are expected to be adopted at the regular August school board meetings next week or special meetings set this week.

So far, three school districts – Kingfisher, Dover and Lomega – will allow parents to choose from three learning environments: class-room, virtual or a blend of the two.

The districts differ on what each of those platforms will look like and which grade levels would be eligible for nontraditional (virtual and blended) learning environments.

Schools also are prepared to pivot to a total virtual environment if the absences or community infection rates spike to a certain threshhold.

The Times & Free Press reached out to county superintendents Monday and received the following feedback:

Kingfisher

“Our focus is to get students back into as much of a traditional learning environment as we can, while still providing for their safety and the safety of our faculty and staff,” Supt. Jason Sternberger said.

“I met with a group of teachers today (Monday) and just sent out a recap to all employees.

“I want to get feedback from teachers in each building on a couple of issues before releasing anything to the public, so it will probably be Wednesday (when the plan is released.)”

Sternberger said the consensus among teachers and administrators is to require masks and temperature checks ini-initially for both teachers and students.

“We’re working with teachers to determine what age groups will be included and the activities or classes where masks won’t be required,” he said.

Kingfisher’s proposed plan offers parents the choice of full-time virtual learning at home for grades 6-12 (by application and with administrative approval.)

Parents also can choose blended learning for grades 9-12, a combination of traditional classroom instruction and online classes for students taking classes for credit recovery or courses that aren’t offered at KHS.

Procedures also are included for bus riders, school meals and classroom social distancing and protocol when a student or staff member develops symptoms and/or tests positive for COVID-19.

Proposed guidelines for extracurricular activities include daily sanitation of facilities and equipment, pre-packaged food only in concession stands, social distancing and masks recommended for all spectators.

Guidelines for athletic events and practices will be determined on a daily basis.

More information will be available when the final plan is released later this week, Sternberger said.

He reminds that the school’s plan serves as “an initial road map for the beginning of school,” which can be amended at a moment’s noticed based on changing federal, state and local circumstances.

Hennessey

“We’re trying to be prepared as best we can,” said Hennessey Public School Superintendent Dr. Mike Woods. “We’re trying to focus on the positive, and be creative in the way we deal with this, and come up with some cool stuff in the way we educate our kids.”

The Hennessey board will have a special meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday and the agenda includes “Return to Learn” plans for board approval.

Notice posted for the meeting indicates all school board members intend to participate virtually in the meeting, via Zoom, while administration and staff will be present onsite.

Woods said Monday afternoon he didn’t “think it made one bit of difference” that the state board went from a mandate for masks to a highly recommended use of masks.

He did take issue with the color-codes that the state had proposed.

“Why did we need two oranges? I don’t like it that the state would tell us when to shut down based on the number of COVID cases in our county. Southern Kingfisher County isn’t the same as the northern.”

Cashion and Okarche are the back doors to El Reno and Oklahoma City, he said.

“It’s a different demographic. Ask anyone.”

Woods said he “always prefers policies be left up to local districts,” but he respects input from the state.

“There will continue to be those who say ‘You can’t make me wear that mask,’” Woods said.

“We’re being cautious. While some schools have postponed their start I think that means we’re going to be well ahead of them by a month, and get more done.”

Hennessey school starts Thurs., Aug. 6.

Woods said they have a contact-tracing plan in place in a case a student is tested positive for the virus.

“We had zero cases related to graduation,” he said, and social distancing was practiced at the event.

Then everyone climbed in their vehicles and went across the street to watch the fireworks and took group pictures, he said.

The school had two employees who tested positive in May. One was a summer employee who had been in contact with six other employees whose tests all came back negative.

A teacher had a family member who was positive, but the teacher wasn’t, he said.

“These situations were good dress rehearsals for us. … We immediately isolated everyone who’d come in contact with them.”

Fall sports (football, volleyball, softball and cross country) continue.

“We take temperatures, push hand-washing and have hand-sanitizers everywhere.”

Dover

“We think it’s very important that Dover students get back to school, but we’re also implementing precautions to protect students and faculty,” Supt. Max Thomas said.

He said he was glad that individual school districts have been left to set their own policies, because even in smaller rural counties like Kingfisher, infection rates vary between school districts.

“Right now, Dover has only had two cases and both of those are recovered,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense that our regulations would be determined at the state level.”

The school will provide personal protective equipment for faculty and staff, paying particular attention to those who may be in more vulnerable demographic groups and will check temperatures at the door, but mask usage will be on a voluntary basis.

“We encourage parents to take ownership of their children’s health and we will respect their decision whether to send their children to school with or without masks,” he said.

Parents also can choose between virtual, classroom or blended learning environments for their students, he said.

According to the school website, as long as at least one class is taken on campus, a student can still participate in extracurricular activities.

Dover students attending Chisholm Trail Technology Center who will be riding the bus with Hennessey students will be required to wear a mask on the bus, he said.

“We are paying close attention to the advice from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the American Academy of Pediatrics,” Thomas said. “Like everyone else, we are prepared to make modifications as situations change.”

Cashion

“We are planning to release our plan on July 31,” Supt. Sammy Jackson said. “It is still fluid and changes daily.

“We feel we are prepared with disinfecting spray/ wipes, hand sanitizers, foggers, sprayers, and multiple options of PPE.

“Not to mention looking at options and opportunities for social distance. Our goal is to keep our students and staff safe, while providing the least restrictive environment possible.”

Lomega

“We are going to have to make some changes to the Return to School Plan that we released last week,” Supt. Steve Shiever said.

“We are still working on those changes.

“We are trying to take a common sense approach that fits our school and community. We are looking at ways to implement the statewide COVID map into our plan.”

Okarche

“I do think that each school district should make their own decision on precautionary measures and what to mandate or not mandate for their district,” Sumrall said.

“I feel each district and community has their own perspective and precautionary beliefs and issues.

“The administrative staff at Okarche Public Schools met with teachers and staff today to get their feedback concerning re-opening precautions.

“I will then meet with the building principals and discuss teacher and staff concerns and feedback, and will put together some precautionary measures to recommend to the Okarche Board of Education to be voted on at our Aug. 3 meeting.

“It is a very tough decision for administrators and boards of education because there is such a wide range of personal feelings about the virus and how to handle back to school procedures.

“We will definitely take into consideration everyone’s concerns and will make the best decision for the district as a whole.”

Sumrall voiced the frustration shared by every administrator in every school district:

“It is a no-win situation for school officials, no matter what decisions are made.

“Some will think it is too much and some will think it is not enough.”