HULL — Superintendent Judith Kuehn would like to inform the Hull Public Schools community of health and safety measures that have taken place in the district ahead of the start of the 2020-21 academic year.
The first day of school for students will be Wednesday, Sept. 16. The district will implement numerous health and safety procedures in an effort to protect the health and wellbeing of all students, faculty and staff as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I would like to thank our custodial staff and our entire facilities department for the hard work they’ve put in this summer to make our buildings safe for the start of the year,” Superintendent Kuehn said. “We would not be asking students or staff to enter the schools if we didn’t fully believe that it was safe to do so, and we thank the members of the Hull Public Schools community for their cooperation and support as we navigate these uncertain times.”
Health and safety protocols will include:
- A strict face-covering policy for students and staff at all schools will be enforced.
- Mask breaks will be given for students periodically during the day.
- Adequate room for social distancing will be made available at all times.
- With classrooms at 50% capacity, students and staff should be able to maintain social distancing of six feet at all times.
- Traffic patterns in all buildings have been developed and will be clearly marked in all schools by Sept. 16.
- Outdoor spaces will be used as often as possible for instruction.
- Students will be required to maintain a six-foot distance from others while eating.
- Frequent hand washing and hand sanitizing will be stressed throughout the school day, and proper hygiene protocols will be put into place for all grades.
- Hand sanitizer will be available in every room and at every entrance. COVID-19 safety signage has been posted throughout all school buildings.
- Parents and guardians will be asked to monitor their children daily for symptoms of the virus, and staff will be asked to monitor themselves as well. To review symptoms of COVID-19, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website by clicking here.
- All staff has been supplied with personal protective equipment (PPE) and a system is in place for staff to request replenishment of PPE supplies.
Superintendent Kuehn was joined by several teachers this week for an in-depth walk-through of each school in the district to ensure the buildings meet safety requirements.
The district has worked closely with school nurses to develop strict protocols surrounding COVID-19. Should there be a positive case of COVID-19 in a school the district will immediately contact the Hull Board of Health and work together to monitor and evaluate the situation.
“The Hull school district is fortunate to have had an HVAC engineer consultant on site for many years, and this practice strengthens our ability to ensure the health and safety of staff and students,” Superintendent Kuehn said.
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