Questons about reopening?

This section will be updated as parents/guardians have specific questions regarding re-opening!  We have published a FAQ regarding reopening in this District News section! After reading that document, we encourage you to email us to ask your question concerning reopening!  lisa.tuttle-huff@madisonmohawks.org

Who must wear a mask?

• All students grades K-12 must wear a mask in school. All adults will wear masks. Gov Dewine order
• Any student grades PK-12 who rides a bus to and from school must wear a mask.
• Students with medical conditions will be exempt from wearing a mask.

Does my child have to bring a clear backpack?

No. Clear backpacks are just a suggestion for parents who want to cut down on the time that students spend in the hallways and touching lockers frequently.

If my child wants to choose the remote option, can they still participate in school sponsored after school activities?

The remote option is for those students who have a medical condition or a fear of contracting the virus. Students who participate in school sponsored extracurricular activities should not choose this option because these activities will promote a greater risk for contracting the virus.  If a student plays a sport that is not school sponsored, this does not apply. 

Are there two remote plans?

Technically yes!  There is the plan for students who have a medical issue or fear for someone who has a medical issue close to them and choose the remote option in August. This choice will be facilitated by the ESC for K-8 and Edguenuity online curriculum with a Madison teacher for grades 9-12. 

There is a virtual option that will happen if the school were to go totally remote again.  This option is for all students and will be instructed by Madison teachers. 

What are the protocols for a student riding a bus?

• When loading the bus, the bus driver will ask the first students on the bus to move to the back of the bus.
• If a student refuses to wear a mask, they will not be permitted to use the school transportation.
• If a student does not have a mask at the bus stop, they will be offered a mask.
• All students grades PK-12 must wear a mask to utilize school transportation.
• Bus Drivers will wear masks while on the bus.
• Bus routes will be similar to every other year.
• Bus routes will be assigned closer to school starting.
• Siblings should sit together.
• Seats will be assigned.
• The bus will unload in reverse order with students remaining seated until the group before them has exited the bus to avoid jamming up of the aisle way and maintaining social distancing.
• Bus Drivers will sanitize the bus after each route.

What has the school done this summer for reopening the school safely?

• We have been developing a reopening plan with teachers and staff to make sure that our students and staff are safe in our buildings.
• We have engaged and encouraged everyone in the school and the community to practice preventive behaviors. These are the most important actions that will support the school's safe reopening and will help them stay open.
• Implement multiple COVID mitigation strategies (e.g., social distancing, cloth face coverings, hand hygiene, etc.
• We will communicate, educate, and reinforce appropriate hygiene and social distancing practices in ways that are developmentally appropriate for students, teachers, and staff when school opens.
• We have integrated COVID mitigation strategies into co-curricular and extracurricular activities (e.g., limiting or cancelling participation in activities where social distancing is not feasible may be an option).
• We have professionally developed our staff on maintaining healthy environments (e.g., cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces).
• We have been making decisions that take into account the level of community transmission, which is low right now.
• We are repurposing unused or underutilized school spaces to increase classroom space and facilitate social distancing, including outside spaces with tents for mask breaks.
• We have developed a proactive plan for when a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19.
• We have developed a plan with Butler County Health Department to conduct case tracing in the event of a positive case.

Will there be a bus for Butler Tech students on Aug.11 when they start?

• Since Butler Tech first day is August 11th, transportation will be providing a bus to and from Butler Tech only.  Students will need a ride to and from the high school from August 11 until August 14th. Starting Monday Aug. 17th Madison buses  will pick up Butler Tech students from their home and bring them to school.
•  A bus will be at the high school at 6:30 am and will be pulling out at 6:50 am. In the afternoon the bus will be back at high school about 2:30/2:35 to drop off students. Any questions please call the transportation office. 513-420-4779.

Will the nurse still give my student their medicine at school?

• It is recommended for students who can take their medicine at home to please take it in the morning.  The nurse will be diligent about making sure that the students who are sick do not interact with the students getting medicine. However, if there is a possibility that the student does not have to be in the nurses' offices then there is less chance of contracting any illness from another student.

At the first meeting on reopening, there had been almost no changes made to the lunch time routine. Is there an updated plan on lunch?

We have updated the lunch protocols.  

Teachers adhere to their lunch schedule and not be late or early because that will cause congestion.

We will have student IDs with a bar code on the back for all students for cafeteria usage.  We will ask parents not to send cash, but to use Pay Schools to add money to their child's lunch. 

Those with an ID will be in the faster line for lunch. 

There will be NO self-service and all items will be wrapped or served by the workers. 

We will be utilizing Styrofoam trays for all students. 

Cafeteria tables will only seat four instead of eight.

Aides and two custodians will be utilized to help with the disinfectant of the cafeteria tables between lunches. 

We will be purchasing more trash cans so that we can put these in the aisles and students will not need to go far to put trays in the trash

We have rented tents to set outside for lunch use for all three schools.  Principals can decide how to allow the usage.  This will allow social distancing in the cafeteria.  This is just a temporary solution for nice weather.  Gymnasiums may be used in the winter.

Students MUST STAY SEATED.

If a student packs their lunch, can they go directly to their table, avoiding congregating in a line.

How will the school utilize outdoor space in their reopening plan?

   We have purchased four large tents for mask breaks and lunch overflow.  Teachers can use these by signing up.  We will       utilize outside spaces for all music classes, PE classes, and others.

If the governor lifts the mask requirement for public places, will the students still be required to wear masks?

This determination has not been made yet.

At what point and how often will you reassess the reopening plan?

We have reassessed weekly and sometimes daily.  We will continue to evaluate the plan based on new information.

Who is responsible for insuring compliance from staff and the district, with the reopening plan, and the governors mandates on Covid 19?

Our staff is dedicated to the safety and well being of our students and fellow colleagues.   Should a situation arise that would be going against the mandates of the governor or the school, then the employee's supervisor will be responsible for  the employee.

Would it be possible for younger students to move throughout their day in “pods” similar to what some of the athletic teams are using? Reducing the amount of spread, if a student did become infected. For example, the same group of students would sit together, anytime there was a need to work, eat or interact as a group?

We have already put this in place in the elementary school.

Is the school considering eBook, text books, to reduce the amount of communal materials being shared?

Yes, this was a consideration we made this year when we purchased our new curriculum supplies. 

Can the school year start later?

We will be having a hybrid start for the first week of school.   The week of August 17, students with the last name starting with A-M will come to school on Monday, August 17 and Wednesday, August 19 all day.  On Tuesday, August 18 and Thursday, August 20 only the students with last names N-Z will come to school all day. On Friday no students will come to school; teachers will have time to evaluate the issues and brainstorm solutions for those issues for a full start on Monday, August 24. 

Have you developed plans/ideas for commonly touched surfaces like door handles to be cleaned throughout the day?

We have custodians who are responsible for this, as well as every teacher who has spray sanitizer in their rooms. 

What are the plans for teaching and learning if we are closed as a whole school again?

We have a comprehensive virtual learning plan that teachers have been working on this summer.  Madison teachers will be teaching remotely except for the students who have already started the year remote, they will stay with the ESC.

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