Good Morning Families, Employees and Community Members,
Wood County Health Department Quarantine Modification
The Wood County Health Department has extended the three-foot-minimum distancing threshold to all grade levels. In January, the definition of close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual that would then lead to the need to quarantine in grades K-6 only was changed to include only those who were within 3 feet in the classroom or bus (instead of 6 feet) for at least 15 minutes (or within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes in other school spaces). Those between 3 and 6 feet away for any time period in the classroom or on the bus are no longer required to quarantine.
In other words, now for all grade levels, in the classroom or on the bus, a close contact distance within 3 feet (no longer 6 feet) of a COVID-19 positive individual for at least 15 cumulative minutes in one 24-hour period will be used by the Wood County Health Department to determine who must quarantine for 14 days.
“Based on a review of data from both within Wood County and from other jurisdictions, at least three feet of distancing, when combined with other protocols, including staying home when sick, mask-wearing, hand-washing and disinfecting surfaces has been shown to provide substantial protection to students in classrooms and on required school transportation,” Benjamin Robison, MPH, Health Commissioner, Wood County Health Department, explained. “WCHD continues to recommend maximal distancing, even greater than 6 feet, between students whenever possible. We will be continually monitoring this policy and COVID data and will revisit this, if needed.”
Learning Plan Update
Changes to the learning plan for the remainder of the school year will be as follows:
- Preschool – On Tuesday, March 30, will return to 4 days per week.
- Elementary Schools – No change.
- HPI and PJHS – On Monday, March 29, will return to 5 days per week.
- PHS
- On Tuesday, March 16, will move from the current alternating days hybrid plan to the hybrid plan with 4 in-person days per week (Tuesday-Friday).
- On Monday, April 26, will return to 5 days per week.
- State end of course tests will be administered in-person on remote Mondays:
- April 5th American History and Biology
- April 12th ELA 2 (parts 1 & 2) and Government
- April 19th Geometry (parts 1 & 2) and Algebra 1 (parts 1 & 2)
- Tuesday, April 27 at PHS is a school day for 11th grade only due to SAT administration.
When we look back on this year, we are filled with gratitude and pride for the hard work, grit and many positive achievements of our employees, students and families. As we march towards the impending spring season, we soak up the sun’s rays when we can and treasure those warmer days when they happen, knowing there will be a time soon when every day will be warm. Despite this, we must still, from time to time, scrape ice from our windshield or face a brisk 20 degree morning. It feels like our path with COVID-19 is similar. We have hope for the future but understand that for now we will still need to respect the cold and potential winter weather that may or may not come. I know I have not put my snow shovel away for the season and my winter coat, hat and gloves are still on standby. But, I am excited that spring is coming soon.
Peace,
Tom H.
Thomas L. Hosler
Superintendent
Perrysburg Schools