Updated Sept. 3, 2021:
Newark City Schools will continue to follow guidance from the Licking County Health Department (LCHD) and make adjustments as needed.
Please Click the following link to find the current guidance from the health department:
LCHD School Guidance 8-16-21. This includes guidelines related to isolation and quarantine.
We have seen an increase in positive tests and the number of students and staff quarantined since school began. We are taking some steps to try to help slow the spread of COVID-19, as well as to lower the number of people who are quarantined following a positive case:
The best way to avoid being quarantined is to be vaccinated and/or wear a mask and maintain social distancing. We encourage anyone who is unable to guarantee social distancing to wear a mask while inside our buildings, however masks remain optional for students.
District staff members are now expected to wear masks or face coverings when they are unable to maintain at least 6 feet of social distance from students or fellow staff members
If a student or staff member feels unwell, please do not go to school. Communicate with a family doctor to determine your next steps
Classroom adjustments:
Students will be seated near the same students throughout the day (mostly, for elementary specials, etc.)
No more carpet time in elementary classrooms unless distancing can be ensured
As a district, we are:
Continuing to promote good hygiene practices:
Doing regular and deep cleaning, including but not limited to:
Wiping down door handles, common areas, desks and drinking fountains regularly
Spraying/disinfecting classrooms and playgrounds daily
Limiting cross grouping of students to assist in contact tracing
Delivering medications to classrooms to limit time out of the classroom and the number of people in the clinic
Other information:
LCHD will determine who needs to quarantine or isolate. This will be based on each person’s vaccination status and whether they are wearing a mask, per the LCHD guidelines.
Some classrooms or schools may need to shift to virtual learning at times during the year, depending on the number of active cases or quarantined staff and students
If a student or staff member is identified as a close contact to a person with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, we will send an email, along with a recommendation that the person stay home for 10 days from the date of exposure, unless you can provide a proof of vaccination or recent diagnosis of your own positive COVID-19 diagnosis
Classroom letters will be emailed, and building letters will be posted on the district COVID dashboard on the website
We want to keep students and staff in school, and safe, as much as possible. Although vaccination is the best way to keep from being quarantined, it does not fully prevent you from getting sick. Social distancing and masking remain important ways to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep people healthy and in-school. Taking these measures will help cut down on the spread of the virus and the number of people who are quarantined after exposure to a positive case of COVID.