Coronavirus: Required temperature checks part of DPS safety protocols for upcoming school year

DAYTON — Dayton Public Schools announced required temperature checks and facial coverings are part of the full safety protocol plan for the 2020-21 academic year, according to a district spokesperson.

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The district released most of their safety protocols for the academic year Monday, which is a part of DPS’ Safe School Restart Plan. Included in the district’s plan are required temperature checks, required facial coverings, and social distancing measures in the classroom and on buses, a district spokesperson said.

Classes are set to begin across the district Monday, Aug. 17.

Temperature checks:

• Any student with suspected COVID-19 symptoms is asked to stay home and parents are to notify school personnel if there is a confirmed diagnosis
• Before any student gets on a DPS bus, parents are asked to check the temperature of their child and check for symptoms of COVID-19
• Students will have temperature and symptom checks before entering the building. Students with a fever or other symptoms will be isolated at the school and monitored by a school nurse until a parent can pick them up.

Facial coverings:

• All students, faculty, and staff members will be required to wear facial coverings, according to the district.
• Masks will be provided by the district for each student. Students will leave their personal face coverings at school each day. Older students will use alcohol wipes to sanitize their coverings the next day. For younger students, the district will manage sanitizing the coverings.

Social distancing in classrooms:

• All desks will be at least two feet apart, which is the requirement by Public Health, Dayton and Montgomery County. All desks will be arranged in rows that face forward. Desks that are normally placed in pods or in small groups will not be allowed.

Movement outside classrooms:

• For elementary and middle school aged students, teachers will change classrooms rather than the students. For classes like physical education and music, movement in the halls will be limited to one class at a time.
• Information about high school class movements will be released later by the district.

Buses:

• Facial coverings will be required at all times for students on buses. For students who don’t have personal masks, the Dayton Public Schools will provide them.
• Buses will be loaded from the back seats forward so students do not cross paths while getting onboard.

Dayton Public Schools will also change lunch and recess procedures for the school year, however those protocols will be released later.

In addition, visitors will not be permitted inside the schools and there will be a thorough cleaning and sanitation schedule in each building the district spokesperson said.

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