OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) - Westside Community Schools have detailed their plans for the start of the upcoming academic year.
Westside says their current plan includes bringing 100 percent of students back this fall using close to a traditional school day and school year calendar as possible.
Masks will likely be required. Communications director for Westside Schools, Brandi Paul, says if school happened today, they'd require masks and doesn't see that changing in the next seven weeks.
The school will also enforce social distancing, with the possibility of putting up plexiglass, in some classrooms.
The school district is also keeping its options open. They have a backup plan in place that would allow the students to come to school two days a week, with the kids broken up into two groups.
They also have the capability to keep the students home and use e-learning for the classrooms, like they did in the spring semester of 2020.
“I want to stress that these are only our plans for August and September. As this virus evolves, as the situation evolves, we’re going to evolve our plans and again, do what’s best for kids," says Paul.
School begins for Pre-K, Kindergarten – 7th grade, and 9th grade students on August 18. Eighth graders and 10th-12th graders will begin school on August 19.
Elementary school will begin at 8:30, ten minutes earlier than normal.
Westside says the academic situation could change as time goes on.
If a student or staff member tests positive, they'll do contact tracing and force those in close contact to quarantine for 14 days.
The school building that person was in, would also be closed for 1-2 days for deep cleaning.
Paul also says they'll work with parents who don't feel comfortable sending their kids back to school.
Masks will not be required for those that medically cannot wear them. Alternatives are being pursued at this point.
