Weatherford Superintendent Jill Henderson addressed the district’s back-to-school safety plan during the school board meeting Monday night.
Henderson said the Oklahoma State Department of Education required all public school districts to form a safe return plan for the 2021-22 school year and present it to their school board. However, the plan does not need school board approval.
The plan is available to the public on the Weatherford Public Schools Facebook page.
Weatherford’s plan features a return to normal operations with extra sanitary precautions in place.
District families are asked to check children and other family members for COVID-19 symptoms before sending them to school. If any are symptomatic or have been exposed to COVID-19, they are asked to quarantine following the Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
The district also will be partnering with local health services to ensure students, family and staff members have access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Respiratory etiquette, frequent handwashing and disinfecting protocols will continue to ensure the safety of the students. Each classroom will have its own supply of hand sanitizer, spray disinfectant and towels.
No social distancing protocols have been put in place and masks are optional, even on the buses.
“We want to remind everyone Senate Bill 658 prohibits the school board from implements a mask mandate, and the governor is the only one who can overturn that by declaring a state of emergency,” Henderson said.
Those who do not feel safe returning to in-person learning can utilize the district’s virtual academy option.
If there is an outbreak in the district or community, the district has plans in place to create pods within the school sites, put students on an A/B schedule or even move fully virtual as the situation demands.
Those with questions about the safe return plan can contact Superintendent Henderson or Assistant Superintendent Steve Callen at (580) 772-3327 This plan is subject to change at any time and will be reviewed every 6 months.
During her superintendent’s report, Henderson also gave a quick update on the district building project.
Turf installation at Woody Roof Field is scheduled to begin this week. The concession stand also has been torn down and concrete footings are being poure for the track field house.
Steady progress continues to be made at Gen. Thomas P. Stafford Elementary and the East Elementary site.
Revenue is up from thi time last year and the estimate of needs should be presented at next month’s meeting.
Darci Wall and Ashely Terrel are working to revive the Weatherford Parent Teacher Organization.
The Weatherford Principals and student resource officers also gave their monthly reports.
Brooke Brown, principal at Burcham Elementary, said she had 78 new students plus six more enrollment packets on the way. Brown said while enrollment was up this year, it had been down for the last couple of years.
East Elementary Principal Brad Howell said he has 27 new students and is expecting 10 more.
West Elementary has 343 students enrolled as of Monday, according to Principal Meagan Merkey, and 18 of those are new.
Dru Svitak, Weatherford Middle School principal, said the site has 514 students enrolled and 30 new students. Sixth and seventh grade has a separate enrollment Tuesday, so that will affect the numbers.
Weatherford High School has 605 students enrolled this year, which is up about 40 from last year. Principal Garrett Smith said the school site sold students parking spots for the year for $50, and the students were allowed the paint them. Smith said he plans to get drone footage once students are done painting.
SRO Justin Bushong said he is excited to start the school year and is planning to implement information from recent safety and SRO courses.