As the new school year slowly approaches, Hillsborough County Public Schools released plans for welcoming students in the upcoming 2020-2021 academic year—including not requiring masks.
Tuesday morning, District Superintendent Addison Davis presented three different potential reopening models for schools, each model being based on potential risk of further coronavirus spreading. Model A represents a low risk and a traditional reopening, Model B represents a moderate risk and a hybrid-rotation of virtual and in-person classes and Model C represents a full virtual learning plan.
Each model makes Hillsborough Virtual School available to all students and e-Learning accessible from the school. School gatherings like assemblies and pep rallies, however, will be limited across all proposed plans.
Although masks will be strongly encouraged, students will not be required to wear them unless a state or local order goes into effect. Face coverings will be provided to students riding the bus but the district said providing each student with a single-use mask would not be feasible.
Instead, all students will be provided with three reusable masks.
Staff will be given Personal Protective Equipment and hand sanitizer and disinfectant spray will be provided in the classrooms, the district said.
While there is no definitive plan for a positive COVID-19 test result in a school, Davis said the district will determine next steps on a case-by-case basis. The person will be removed and a rapid response team will be sent in for cleaning.
Last week, Davis said students will not be temperature checked before entering schools, but instead will go through “verbal screenings,” and be asked if they feel sick when they get to school each day.
The school district’s plans arrive following Hillsborough County’s Emergency Policy Group voting in favor of an order, which will need to be renewed weekly, to make face masks mandatory starting 5 p.m. Wednesday. Of the members voting “No” was Hillsborough County School District Chair Melissa Snively.
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