UPDATED Aug. 17, 2020 – HOLMES BEACH – The first school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic began Monday morning as about 195 students showed up for the opening day of classes at Anna Maria Elementary School.
“This is one of the smoothest openings we’ve had. I was very pleased. It went perfectly this morning,” Principal Jackie Featherston said regarding an opening day that included mandatory face coverings, plastic desk shields and social distancing in response to COVID-19.
The opening took place under guidelines adopted in an emergency meeting Friday by the Manatee County School Board and School Superintendent Cynthia Saunders. At that meeting, the board’s policy and operating protocols regarding cloth face coverings and plastic face shields for students, teachers and staff members were revised.
Policy 8450 provides additional flexibility as to when and where plastic face shields can be worn as an alternative to cloth face coverings.
The revised policy was adopted before students who selected the brick and mortar learning option returned to school campuses Monday morning. This includes 82% of the students at AME.
Students who selected the online eLearning option began their new school at home. Those who selected the hybrid learning method will spend some days at school and some days at home.
The revised policy and protocols recommended by Superintendent Saunders now incorporate the latest guidelines included in the “Guidance for K-12 School Administrators on the Use of Cloth Face Coverings in Schools” issued by the CDC on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Those guidelines were not included in the previous policy and protocols adopted the same day they were issued.
“A face mask must always be worn on school property, facilities, including school buses and/or engaged in school activities in accordance with Board Policy 8450,” according to the policy’s operating protocols.
“CDC recognizes wearing face masks may not be possible in every situation or for some people. In some situations, wearing a face mask may exacerbate a physical or mental health condition, lead to a medical emergency or introduce significant safety concerns.
“Adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible to increase the feasibility of wearing a face mask or to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading if it is not possible to wear one. Appropriate and consistent use of cloth face coverings may be challenging for some students, teachers, and staff, including:
- “Younger students, such as those in early elementary school.
- Students, teachers, and staff with severe asthma or other breathing difficulties.
- Students, teachers, and staff with special educational or healthcare needs, including intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, and sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity,” according to the operating protocols.
“CDC recognizes there are specific instances when wearing a cloth face covering may not be feasible. In these instances, parents, guardians, caregivers, teachers, and school administrators should consider adaptations and alternatives whenever possible.
“Teachers and staff who may consider using clear face coverings include:
- “Those who interact with students or staff who are deaf or hard of hearing, per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
- Teachers of young students learning to read.
- Teachers and students in English as a second language classes.
- Teachers of students with disabilities,” according to the operating protocols.
Clear face coverings
According to the revised operating protocols, “Clear face coverings are not face shields. CDC does not recommend the use of face shields for normal everyday activities or as a substitute for cloth face coverings because of a lack of evidence of their effectiveness for source control. Therefore, considering the CDC guidance, the board will make the following allowances to Board Policy 8450:
“A. Students who need a break from their face mask, may do so with teacher permission provided social distancing can be maintained under specific outdoor circumstances (not indoor).
“B. Employees who need a break from wearing their face mask while on school property, may do so if alone in their own office or classroom or outdoors maintaining social distancing. An employee may not utilize common space, for example a conference room, break room, stairwell or any unoccupied location for a mask break. A cloth face mask must be worn during all other times and locations.
“C. While eating breakfast or lunch or while drinking water, no face covering is required while eating or drinking in designated areas as long as social distancing practices are in place.
“D. No face covering is required during physical education classes, recess, or other outdoor activities as long as social distancing practices are in place. Students must wear cloth face masks to and from physical education class and to and from the recess location or activity.
“E. Face shields that completely cover the face, wrap around the face and extend below the chin, will be allowed to be worn by students in Grades PreK-5 and students with disabilities only in the classroom during specific instructional periods as long as either social distancing practices are in place and/or physical barriers of separation are in place between students. A cloth face mask must be worn during all other times and locations. Face shields are not substitutes for cloth face masks nor are being used for normal everyday activities and only allowed in this narrow use.
“F. Face shields that completely cover the face, wrap around the face and extend below the chin, will be allowed to be worn by teachers in all grade levels only in the classroom during specific instructional periods as long as social distancing practices are in place between the teacher and the students. A cloth face mask must be worn after specific instruction has been given or when social distancing cannot be followed between teacher and student, and during all other times and locations. Face shields are not substitutes for cloth face masks, nor are they being used for normal everyday activities and are only allowed in this narrow use.”
