The John Glenn School Board members took time last week to discuss guidelines for when students return to school this fall.
Superintendent Christopher Winchell said the guidelines are in line with the Indiana Department of Health. Starting July 1, Winchell said vaccinations are highly recommended, but are not required.
Winchell recommended masks be optional inside school buildings, but require them on school buses beginning July 1.
“…and I say that for two reasons,” said Winchell. “One is because we’re considered public transportation and we do an important dance between federal rules, state rules and our own local rules, but the other reason I recommended that on the buses because as we spent a year doing contact tracing, by far our highest amount of contact tracing issues were on the bus.”
Quarantine will be required for affected students and adults, if they are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Currently, residents age 12 and older are eligible to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine. They will be reviewing instances where other school corporations may require students and visitors to be vaccinated prior to being on campus.
The middle school and high school are expected to go back to traditional scheduling with continued spacing within the classroom.
Winchell stressed that the Teacher’s Association is in full support of the guidelines presented to the school board for consideration last week. It will be reviewed closer to the start of the school if there are changes in state guidance.
The school board approved the guidelines with a unanimous vote.
