August 2, 2021
Parents/Guardians,
I hope you have had a great summer and that your children are looking forward to returning for the 2021-2022 school year.
There have been many questions regarding the district’s plans for returning to school and dealing with any remaining COVID-19 issues. We plan to return to our school buildings in a traditional manner, wearing masks as a voluntary option for our staff and students. Governor DeWine has reinforced the plan that students and staff will not be required to wear a mask in school buildings. However, it is highly advised that if a student or staff member has not been vaccinated, it is recommended that they wear a mask.
While I respect your right to choose whether or not your family will be vaccinated, I expect the year to go more smoothly if a vast majority of our community members are vaccinated. If you decide to get vaccinated, please contact your local health department, doctor, pharmacy, or visit a COVID-19 vaccination site.
Due to federal mandates, all staff and students are required to wear masks on public transportation, including school buses.
County superintendents have continued to meet regularly with Pickaway County Public Health regarding these issues. This letter states our intentions at the moment for the upcoming school year. Of course, I have learned during the COVID-19 process that the rules of the state and local health departments are subject to change without much notice. I will strive to provide you with the most up-to-date information as I receive it.
Please see details below regarding safety protocols for the upcoming school year.
Respectfully,
Jeff Sheets
Superintendent
WESTFALL LOCAL SCHOOLS SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR
Westfall Local School District continues to work with Pickaway County Public Health to ensure a safe start for our students and staff during the 2021-2022 school year. As we’ve witnessed in the past, general guidelines, practices, and procedures are subject to change throughout the year without much notice. Parents and guardians will be notified if a change occurs. Your continued support throughout the school year is greatly appreciated.
The following practices will continue within our school buildings for the 2021-2022 school year:
Frequent hand washing routines
Hand sanitizing stations
Thorough cleaning practices (including buses and cafeterias)
Cooperation with families to monitor their child’s health every day
Staying home when feeling ill
In the event of a positive COVID-19 case, Pickaway County Public Health will conduct contact tracing, which includes:
Exposure letters will be sent home to any exposed individuals
Quarantine letters will be sent home to high-risk exposed individuals
Students will be quarantined, pending the degree of exposure based on contact tracing
The positive cases will continue to be tracked on our COVID-19 reporting site.
Each school building will continue to have a designated quarantine area
Students who become sick during the school day or arrive at school sick will be assessed, and the school nurse will be consulted. Students may be quarantined or sent home, depending on the severity of symptoms.
To assist with questions regarding the use of masks this fall:
Due to federal mandates on mass transportation, students and staff must wear masks on school buses. If this changes, we will adjust accordingly.
Individuals are permitted to wear masks in school buildings and at school-related events, but it is no longer mandatory. The Ohio Department of Health strongly recommends any unvaccinated individual wear a mask. While at school, it’s strongly recommended that unvaccinated students and staff wear face masks.
There may be periods of time when illnesses increase in our buildings and community, and in those instances, we may issue new recommendations for increased precautions.
Per OHSAA, there are no longer seating capacity limitations at athletic events and performances.