Bellwood schools to encourage mask wearing

District will only offer in-person learning; cyber school available

BELLWOOD -- When Bellwood-Antis students begin classes Aug. 26, they will be in their classrooms and they will be encouraged to wear masks.

"At this time, the district strongly encourages everyone to wear masks," Superintendent Thomas McInroy said. However, McInroy said masks are "a parents' and employees' choice."

There is one exception, though, as masks are required to be worn while riding on school buses.

"The district has no control over that decision as we are mandated by the CDC, as are the rest of the schools in the state," McInroy said.

The district's school re-entry planning committee recently put together its "safe return to school and continuity plan," which can be found on the district's web site.

School board members are expected to approve that plan at Tuesday's meeting.

"The safety plan reflects input from all parties in the school district, from transportation and cafeteria personnel to administrators and teachers," said Robert Fisher, board president.

"We feel that it reflects the needs and wants of our school community," he added.

The primary goal of the plan is to ensure a safe environment by limiting the possibility of COVID-19 exposure. District personnel will continue to work to improve the plan to make the return to school as safe as possible for students, employees and the community, according to the document.

Decisions related to reopening are being guided by the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with local and state governments.

Students will return for in-person learning, although there will be basic modifications to the traditional school day.

Virtual learning will not continue as a daily option for students, the document states. Instead, a full-time cyber online learning option through the B-A Cyber Program is available for students unable to attend in person.

As part of the plan, parents are being asked to take the temperatures of their children before they leave for school and employees are to take their temperature at home before school starts.

In addition, students will have their temperature taken at least one time in the morning while at school.

As for face masks, the plan recommends students wear securely fitted face coverings at all times unless they are able to social distance by 6 feet or more, the document states.

If students cannot be spaced 3 to 6 feet apart, the plan calls for them to be spaced to the maximum extent possible.

In an effort to mitigate COVID-19 exposure on buses, signage will be placed on the outside of the school buses stating requirements for masks.

In the morning, students will be loading from the back to the front to reduce the amount of time passing one another. Social distancing will be enforced through assigned seats, the document states.

All visitors will have their temperature taken before being permitted to enter the office or building, the plan states.

If a student or staff member gets sick, the district will comply with state Department of Health directions and an isolation room or area will be identified in each building to separate anyone who has COVID-19 symptoms from the rest of the school population.

The plan "is flexible enough to allow for changes to be made if and when it is necessary," Fisher said.

"We recognize that the circumstances and conditions are constantly changing and will require close monitoring," he added.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.