Updated OCS COVID Plan
Our current plan is based on the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s Guidance for K-12 School Operations for In-Person Learning, found here:
https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dph/covid19/K-12Guidance.pdf
Please know that at any time, additional preventative measures may be implemented if school or community spread necessitates or if mandates are issued.
Masks:
- Following the updated KDPH guidance, masks are recommended for all persons while indoors. However, personal choice should be respected and no student or staff member should be harassed, belittled or teased for wearing or not wearing a mask while on school grounds.
- The exception to this applies to staff and all students, including preschool students, on school buses. Per the CDC’s public health order, all individuals MUST wear a mask while on a school bus. We must comply with this federal requirement until the regulation changes.
- A driver does not need to wear a mask if they are the only person on the bus.
Contact tracing and quarantining:
- We ask that you please notify the school as soon as possible if your child tests positive for COVID-19. Vaccinated individuals will not be required to quarantine if they are not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. The District will examine student absence policies to ensure that students are not penalized for COVID-19 related absences, including student illness and quarantine orders.
Social distancing:
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Efforts will be focused to ensure as much social distancing as possible when appropriate and feasible, including at lunch, seat time, and other stationary times throughout the day.
Ventilation:
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OCS is fortunate to have heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems that have been designed by some of the leading professional engineering firms in the country and are built to exceed ASHRAE standards for energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
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OCS implemented additional measures prior to returning to in-person instruction during the 20-21 school year to maximize indoor air quality even further through mechanical dilution and filtration processes. These practices will continue to be utilized for the foreseeable future.
Virtual Learning/NTI:
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Based on our student population there is not a significant need for virtual-only instruction. The OCS Virtual Learning Academy (VLA) was a necessity during the height of the pandemic, but it was not designed to be an on-going educational entity. There are options for students who are medically fragile. Please contact student services at our district office for more information.
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It is important to note that NTI for COVID-19 has not been approved by the State of Kentucky for this school year at this time.
Visitors and Volunteers:
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As we start the school year, we will not be allowing visitors for lunch. This will be reevaluated after the first semester.
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Volunteers must be approved by the school principal or other school administrator prior to visit and must wear a mask beyond the front office.
We encourage all eligible students and staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine and ask that you please keep your student at home if they are showing any symptoms of illness during the school year.
We will continue close communications with the Oldham County Health Department and revise our plan as necessary. If there’s one thing we learned from the last school year, it’s that flexibility and adaptability is key, and we appreciate the cooperation we continue to receive from our families to ensure our students have a successful school year.