Welcome Back

Dear Parents,

Welcome back! Every new school year brings excitement as well as challenges. This year has brought new challenges that most have never had to deal with before. We understand that there are fears and concerns dealing with COVID-19. We are making every effort to make this school year safe and enjoyable for all students, families, staff and community members. In this packet you will see our school plan your student while at school. We ask for your assistance in helping keep our school and community healthy. We look forward to seeing everyone very soon. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Warm regards,

Jennifer Garver RN-BSN; 419-221-1837 ext. 4111 Ashley Schulte RN-BSN; 419-221-1839 ext. 3144 Bath Local Schools Nurses

What can you do to help keep our school and community safe from COVID-19?

1. Please check your student’s temperature every day before sending them to school. If your student has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, they cannot come to school.
2. The following are symptoms of COVID-19 as of August 2020 that are listed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
•	Fever or chills. •	Cough.
•	Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. •	Fatigue.
•	Muscle or body aches. •	Headache.
•	Loss of taste or smell. •	Sore throat.
•	Congestion or runny nose. •	Nausea or vomiting.
•	Diarrhea.
•	Repeated shaking with chills.
3. If your student has any of these symptoms they should not come to school.
4. When you call the office to report a student’s absence please explain what symptoms they are having to the office staff or when leaving a voicemail.
5. Follow up with your doctor’s office as needed.
6. Any student who is diagnosed with COVID-19 may not return to school until cleared by the Allen County Health Department. The ACHD will contact the school nurse verifying release of the student back to the district.
7. Students may return to school after symptom free and fever free without the use of medication (Tylenol/Motrin) after 72 hrs. AND at least ten days have passed since symptoms started.
8. If the student is positive with COVID-19 but has no symptoms, they will stay at home in isolation until after 10 days have passed since their positive test.
9. 14-day quarantine will be required for anyone who is determined to have “close contact” to someone who has COVID-19. Close contact is defined as: within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes to someone with COVID-19 that will result in quarantine. “Close contacts” are determined by the Allen County Health Department.
10.	Encourage good hand washing at home and school. Students should wash their hands for at least 20 seconds.
11.	Please keep your student home if they are not feeling well.
12.	For non-COVID-19 related illnesses we will follow previous guidelines (example strep throat) established.

What your student can expect when arriving at school?
1. Staff members are expected to complete a temperature and symptom check each day.
2. Each building has a designated area for students or staff with symptoms of COVID-19.
3. Students will be directed to a temperature check station on arrival to the buildings. Staff members will check each student’s temperature. If a student arrives to the building and has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, they will be directed to an isolation area and be evaluated by the school nurse. Parents will be notified, and the student will need to go home.
4. Once the temperature check is completed and the student does not have a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, the student will be directed to go to the classroom.
5. Once they arrive to the classroom: students will complete a symptom check with the staff member. The symptoms check is based on the symptoms of COVID-19 listed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. If the student is found to have any symptoms the student will be sent to the isolation area to be evaluated by the nurse and parents will be notified. The school nurse will work with the parents to determine if the symptoms require the student to be sent home.
6. If a student becomes ill later in the school day with symptoms of COVID-19, the student will be sent to the isolation area, evaluated by the nurse and the parents will be notified.
7. Social distancing is encouraged with signage and floor markings. 8. Hand washing is encouraged with signage throughout the building. 9. Hand sanitizing stations are available.
10.	Desks and workstations will be cleaned throughout the day.
11.	Masks/Gaiters are required unless a doctor’s note is on file with the nurse. 12.	Please send a water bottle with your student every day.
13.	All personal information will remain private.
14.	We will be working with the Allen County Health Department throughout the year to provide a safe and enjoyable school year.
15.	If a student becomes positive with COVID-19, the Allen County Health Department will do contact tracing. The school will work with the health department in this process. However, the health department will make the final decisions on determining exposure and contact tracing.

Facial Covering Expectations & Exemptions

• Due to the new mask order on August 13, 2020, students and staff will wear facial coverings at all times when inside a school building.
• Facial coverings are face masks or gaiters. Exemptions for face masks or gaiters are listed below. A doctor’s note must accompany a request for an exemption. Our school nurses will oversee this process.
• Those meeting an exemption status must still wear a shield when unable to social distance and in high traffic areas unless approved by our school nurses.
EXEMPTIONS:
a. CDC Exemptions:
i. Children under2
ii. Any child unable to remove the face covering without assistance iii. A child with significant behavioral/psychological issues undergoing
treatment that is exacerbated specifically by the use of facial coverings (e.g. severe anxiety or tactile aversion)
iv. A child living with severe autism or with extreme developmental delay who may become agitated or anxious wearing a mask.
v. A child with facial deformity that causes airway obstructions b. ODH Exemptions:
i. The individual has a medical condition including respiratory conditions that restricts breathing, mental health conditions, or a disability that contraindicates the wearing of a facial covering; or
ii. The individual is communicating or seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing impaired or has another disability, where an accommodation is appropriate or necessary;
iii. The individual is actively participating in outdoor recess and/or physical activity where students are able to maintain a distance of six feet or more or athletic practice, scrimmage, or competition that is permitted under a separate Department of Health Order;
iv. The individual is seated and actively consuming food or beverage;
v. Where students and staff can manage distancing of at least six feet and removal of the facial covering is necessary for instructional purposes, including instruction in foreign language, English language for non-native speakers, and other subjects where wearing a facial covering would prohibit participation in normal classroom activities, such as playing an instrument;
vi. Students can maintain distance of six feet or more and a mask break is deemed necessary by the educator supervising the educational setting;
vii. The individual is alone in an enclosed space, such as an office;
viii. When an established sincerely held religious requirement exists that does not permit a facial covering.

Allen County COVID-19 Testing Sites*

Testing	Contact Site	Address	Hours               Information

Additional Information

Bluffton Hospital:	139 Garau St.	M – F	419-369-2399 Testing & Triage	Bluffton                    7a-5p
Center	 Sat/Sun 7:30-10a
	
Appointment: Required; Doctor’s Order needed Cost: Outpatient cost $200 (many insurances accepted); Payment plans offered Drive-Thru testing: Yes
	
1001	M – F 8a-	Phone number Lima Memorial Health Bellefontaine           4p                  provided onsite System:	Ave. (off Dewey
Main                 campus, Ave.) northeast corner             Lima
	Appointment: No appointment needed; Doctor’s Order needed
Cost: Some insurances accepted
Drive-Thru testing: Yes
	
Lima Memorial Health 375 N Eastown	M – F 8a-	419-224-4646 System:	Rd.,                            5p                 1-877-DOC-LMPC Lima Memorial Family Suite C                         Sat             (1-877-362-5672) Healthcare	Lima                          8a-2p
	Appointment: Call for telehealth appointment; Doctor’s Order needed
Cost: Some insurances accepted Drive-Thru testing: Yes
	
Lima Memorial Health 240 W Northern	M – F 8a-	419-998-8265 System:	Ave.,                          5p                 1-877-DOC-LMPC Northland Family	Suite 3                         Sat             (1-877-362-5672) Practice	Lima                          8a-2p
	Appointment: Call for telehealth appointment; Doctor’s Order needed
Cost: Some insurances accepted
Drive-Thru testing: Yes
	
Health	Partners	of 550 S Collett St.	M – F 8a-	419-221-3072 Western Ohio (Lima):	Lima                          4p                (Gene Wright Center) Bradfield Community                                                               419-549-5982 Center                                                                                       (North Lima Center)
	Appointment: Required; Telehealth visit required
Cost: Free; Telehealth visit is billed to insurance; Affordability plan offered Drive-Thru testing: Yes
	
Mercy Health:	1800 E 5th St.	M – Sat 8a-	419-996-5030 Delphos Ambulatory	Delphos                    8p
Care Center
	Appointment: No appointment required; Doctor’s Order needed
(If urgent care visit, provider will make decision on testing)
Cost: Some insurances accepted; Call ahead to ask about payment options Drive-Thru testing: No
	
Mercy Health:	967	M – Sat 8a-	419-996-5895
Eastside Urgent Care	Bellefontaine	8p Ave.
Lima
	Appointment: No appointment required; Doctor’s Order needed
(If urgent care visit, provider will make decision on testing)
Cost: Some insurances accepted; Call ahead to ask about payment options Drive-Thru testing: No
	
Mercy Health:
	2195 Allentown
	M – Sat
	419-227-2245
	Appointment: No appointment required; Doctor’s Order needed
(If urgent care visit, provider will make decision on testing)
Cost: Some insurances accepted; Call ahead to ask about payment options Drive-Thru testing: No
	
Westside Urgent Care Rd.	8a-8p Lima                            Sun
10a - 6p

St.
Lima
Mercy Health:	730 W. Market	M – F	419-226-9035 St. Rita's Outpatient                                       6a-5p
Express Imaging and	Sat Lab Services                                                    6a-12p
	Appointment: No appointment required; Doctor’s Order needed
Cost: Some insurances accepted; Call ahead to ask about payment options Drive-Thru testing: No

*Please note: Testing site information is subject to change. Please call ahead to verify information.