Trying to keep from getting sick in a normal year is hard enough. Trying to fight off a contagious and deadly pandemic created a new level of difficulty for school districts across the state.
Within the classrooms, teachers must offer hand sanitizer to all incoming students and disinfect desks between periods.
The disinfectant used on desks and other class equipment is Buckeye International’s Sanicare Quat 256. The company’s website describes it as a “multi-purpose, germicidal detergent for use in hospital, health care and industrial settings at ½ oz. per gallon of water. Buckeye Sanicare Quat 256 requires no rinsing, and is pH neutral for use on floor finishes.”
The solution, heavily diluted in its everyday-use form, is tested according to EPA standards for hard surfaces, which includes a one-minute contact time to kill the coronavirus and many others.
Custodians also use the chemical in e-Misting machines nightly throughout the building and classrooms. In the mist form, no one is allowed in the room after it has been sanitized for at least 10 minutes.
All restrooms, classrooms and “high-touch” areas are cleaned daily, according to the district’s reopening plan. In addition, custodians must wear masks and gloves during work hours, the cafeteria is disinfected between lunch periods, and areas are cleaned again when students or staff are reported sick.
When it comes to personal sanitizing, alcohol-based hand sanitizer is available for all students not only in classrooms, but also at every entrance for students and staff. According to the district’s website, washing hands, wearing masks and regular sanitizing is required of everyone on campus.
“It has definitely been a challenge trying to change the school because of covid,” Principal Dr. Jeffrey Stichler said.” I know the biggest new additions to the school’s covid response are the social distanced lunches, and masks. More of the new additions include self screening, delayed releases between bus and car riders, hand sanitizer hopefully in every room, and students having to wear their IDs’ for both identification and safety.”
All rules are enforced by both the state and the district. These rules all have been deemed necessary by the Center for Disease Control and the American Association of Pediatrics. This includes screening for symptoms before coming to school.
“When teachers or students are suspicious of their own wellbeing they should come and get their temperature taken,” school nurse Karla Palmer said. “Afterward if they have a fever they are supposed to leave the building for further testing. Luckily we have been faring better then what was predicted for the school, but we are still seeing cases appear periodically.”
Because of Covid being a rapidly spreading virus, teachers are recommended to not let students out of class unless seen as necessary.