It’s back to school time for most students and during these uncertain days, trying to accommodate each and every student and their families is a task that all school districts have been forced to take on.
More in-depth cleaning processes. To enforce masks or not? Online or seated classes? These are all issues that have had to be dealt with by school officials in their endeavor to make each and every child feel comfortable as they head back to class.
The Miller School District is no exception and they have not taken these issues lightly. Superintendent of Miller Schools Dr. Dustin Storm ensures that student health and safety is the highest priority for himself as well as each staff member of the district.
The following is a question and answer with Storm.
Heading back to school, what are some of the biggest challenges you feel you have been faced with?
“At the present time, the feedback we have received indicates that In-person learning is very well supported by a vast majority of our students, parents, and community. The biggest challenge is trying to provide a safe learning environment for our students and staff while providing a quality education to each of our students. With information changing rapidly, it has been and will continue to be a challenge to deal with the changes in a timely manner.”
Moving forward, Miller will offer both seated as well as online learning, correct? Was this a tough decision to come to, or was it what the community seemed to want?
“That is correct. We recognized that we would have some parents who would feel the best option for their child would be virtual instruction, so we felt offering the virtual option would be an educational option that we would need to provide. As of Friday, Aug. 14, we have had 38 students (6.6 percent of our student population) indicate they plan to learn virtually for the first semester.”
Safety is a huge priority for school officials and several new safety procedures have been put in place for students. What are some of those procedures?
“The following are some of the many safety procedures we will be implementing to begin 2020-2021 school year:
*Staff and students grades 7-12 are required to wear a facial covering. However, they are not required anytime that students are able to properly social distance.
*Students K-6 are required to wear a facial covering prior to health screening and during dismissal from school.
*Students will have their temperature checked daily by staff. Any student with a temperature above 100.4 degrees will be sent home.
*Hand sanitizer is readily available throughout the school building. All students will be encouraged to sanitize when they enter and before they leave each day.
*Students and staff will be allotted time to frequently wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
*Students will be grouped together when possible to minimize cross-contamination throughout the day.
*Desks will be arranged in a way that allows for the most social distancing possible in the space provided.
*Outdoor space will be utilized when possible.
*Parents are expected to drop off students in the car line, as visitors inside the building will be restricted.
*We have purchased additional sanitizing equipment and hired additional custodial staff to enhance our cleaning efforts.
*High-touch common surfaces (doorknobs, water stations, desks, computers, tablets, chairs and restrooms) are cleaned and disinfected multiple times daily. All disinfectants are EPA registered to kill COVID-19.
*Disinfectant is available for all classroom teachers.
*Traditional water fountains have been replaced with water bottle fillers.
*It is not possible for students to properly social distance on the school bus. Students K-12 are required to wear a facial covering on the bus.
*Student family members will be seated together.
*Buses are disinfected after each route before starting the next route.
*Parents are encouraged to drop off/pick-up students to decrease the number of students on the school bus.
*Breakfast will be eaten in the classroom.
*Students do not use communal containers (i.e., silverware, milk cooler), but are handed a meal from staff.
*All eating surfaces will be sanitized between lunches.
*Alternate spaces will be utilized during lunch periods to allow students to spread out more.
*Any person exhibiting signs of COVID-19 will be sent to the nurse immediately for evaluation.
*A separate space will be set up for anyone exhibiting signs of COVID-19.
*Students and employees are sent home if they exhibit two or more of the symptoms of COVID-19 based on CDC Guidance that are not otherwise explained.
*Every person entering Miller R-II will have their temperature checked upon entry. Any person with a temperature above 100.4 degrees will be sent home.
*Parents are encouraged to screen children daily before sending them to school.
*Parents must keep children home if they exhibit COVID-19 symptoms.
Will masks be required of students and/or staff?
“Staff are required to wear a facial covering. However, they are not required anytime proper social distance can be maintained. Students grades 7-12 are also required to wear a facial covering. However, they are not required anytime that students are able to properly social distance. Students K-6 are required to wear a facial covering prior to health screening and during dismissal from school. It is not possible for students to properly social distance on the school bus. Students K-12 are required to wear a facial covering on the bus.”
What are your thoughts on the beginning of the school year and the many rules and regulations that have been put in place?
“This is my 24th year in education and this will be my 20th year as a school administrator. I never had a class that teaches you how to deal with a pandemic and I am not aware of any resource that gives you the exact plan that guarantees no issues with COVID-19. What I do know is the Miller R-II School District is blessed to have an outstanding group of professionals who will strive to provide the safest and best learning environment for each and every student.”
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