Safe Return to In-Person Instruction & Continuity of Services Plan

Indian Lake Local School District 

Safe Return of In-Person Instruction and

Continuity of Services Plan 2021-2024

Indian Lake Local School District is committed to educating all students. The Board of Education, administration, and staff believes that the best place for children to learn is in-person while in a safe and conducive environment.  With this belief in mind and in collaboration with the Logan County Health Department and other county schools, students returned to full in-person instruction on August 19, 2020 and the district remained open for the duration of the 2020-2021 school year. This enabled students and families to return to a normal mental and emotionally healthy routine.  In addition, all students including those with special needs, received all of their services in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. 

 

The district fully complied with state and local health orders until the Ohio health orders ended on June 2, 2021.  School officials will continue to communicate with the Logan County Health Department to implement safety protocols. 

 

Facial Coverings

The wearing of facial coverings (masks) for students, staff, and the public is voluntary, but is recommended for those who have elevated health risks or have not been vaccinated. If state or local health orders change during a time of elevated communicable disease community spread, the superintendent may require the correct use of facial coverings in accordance with Board Policy 8450.01. 

Physical Distancing: 

The district will continue to utilize a 3-6 feet physical distance protocol in classrooms and in lunch rooms, when practical.  Signage also reminds people of the importance of physical distancing.  

Handwashing: 

In accordance with CDC guidelines https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html, staff, students, and visitors are encouraged to frequently wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.  Hand sanitizer is provided in every classroom, office, and common areas and handwashing signs are placed throughout the facilities.  

Cleaning & Maintaining Healthy Facilities: 

1.) The district utilizes electrostatic disinfectant sprayers throughout the facilities and on buses. Common areas such, as the lunch rooms, are also disinfected between groups. 

2.) Staff and student training is provided to ensure adherence to the safety protocols.  Signage and public announcements are used to inform the community of the expectations.

3.) In 2020-2021, the district installed an HVAC control system to monitor airflow throughout the facilities and installed new filters to improve air quality.  District administrators will continue to monitor and upgrade the HVAC system. 

4.) When practical, buses will open vents or open windows to increase outside air flow.

5.) The district is installing BenQ monitors and projectors to facilitate physical distancing within classrooms.

6.) The district will make repairs to the roofing and building enclosures of the high school to stop environmental hazards caused by leaks.

7.) In the summer of 2021, lockers were replaced in the upstairs of the high school and in the physical education locker rooms so that students no longer need to share lockers.  The locker rooms also received new flooring, paint, and fixtures because no upgrades had been made since 1968. 

8.) If the budget allows, the district will consider replacing carpet in the high school that was installed in 1997.

9.) The district is also analyzing the cost to install air-conditioning in the 1968 portions of the high school that does not have it. 

 

Contact Tracing, Isolation, and Quarantine:  

1.) Visitor access to the campus is limited.  Anyone who is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms is not permitted on school grounds. All visitors must enter through a buzzer door system at the main office of the building where they will verify that they are not experiencing illness symptoms.  

2.) In accordance with the protocols established by the Logan County Health Department for the 2020-21 school year, the district nurse will monitor absences and conduct contact tracing for staff and students. 

3.) If required, the nurse will report weekly positive cases to the Logan County Health Department. 

4.) The district will follow Logan County Health Department protocols for the quarantine and isolation of staff and students. 

 

Vaccination Efforts:

1.) The district collaborated with the Logan County Health Department and Mary Rutan Hospital during the 2020-21 school year to make vaccinations available and convenient for staff and eligible students. 

2.) The district will continue to partner with local health officials to provide vaccination opportunities for staff, students, and the community. 

 

Accommodations: 

1.) The district will provide health and safety accommodations in accordance with students’ Individual Education Plans. 

2.) The district will make every effort to collaborate with families regarding individual special needs. Various forms of communication are available to facilitate this process, including, but not limited to: email, U.S. mail, text messaging, Remind App, Google Classrooms, phone calls, Zoom meetings, and physically distanced face-to-face meetings. 

 

Continuity of Services:

1.) The district plans to continue full in-person learning. 

2.) In the event of school closure due to pandemic, the district purchased Chromebooks for all students. Staff has received extensive training to deliver content virtually. 

3.) The district also utilizes a fully online Virtual Learning Academy program to provide instruction to students who have health conditions that could prevent their regular attendance in-person. 

4.) The district will continue to use I-Ready testing to assess students in grades K-12 to ensure that students are progressing as expected and interventions are made as needed through the Response to Intervention protocol. 

5.) The district will continue to offer before and after school learning opportunities through the 21st Century Grant.

6.) School officials will continue to support and collaborate with the Chippewa and Russells Point Outreach Centers and the Lookout Center to facilitate after-school and summer learning opportunities. 

7.) The high school utilizes a Virtual Learning Academy credit recovery lab.  

8.) The middle and high school use Naviance to promote career development and to track individual student progress toward graduation.  

9.) A summer reading plan was implemented in 2021 at the elementary for grades K-4. 

10.) A summer Response to Intervention teacher check-in plan was established in 2021 for grades 5-8.

11.) Summer credit recovery is offered for grades 9-12. 

 

Social and Emotional and Mental Health Needs:

1.) The district utilizes Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) K-12. 

2.) All staff and students have received training in the R-Factor “Lake Effect” framework. The district continues to use this SEL program.

*Students periodically take the Six Seconds SEI-YV survey to measure and track emotional intelligence development.

*Staff periodically takes the Six Seconds Education Vital Signs assessment to provide a snapshot of the school and classroom climate so that school leaders can identify areas that support and interfere with school success. 

3.) All staff receive SafeSchools training annually.

4.) Grades K-4 use homeroom and grades 5-12 use Laker Time advisory periods to provide additional one-on-one support for student academic, social, and emotional well-being. 

5.) Students in grades 4-8 receive Botvin Lifeskills training. 

6.) 6th and 9th grade students take the Signs of Suicide Screening.

7.) 11th grade students receive Teen Mental Health First Aid training so that they know how to assist someone dealing with a mental health crisis.  

8.) All staff is certified in Mental Health First Aid so that they know how to assist someone dealing with a mental health crisis. 

9.) The district participates in a Handle With Care program that facilitates communication between first responders and school officials when students have experienced trauma outside of school. 

10.) In addition to employing four full-time guidance counselors, the district has a partnership with TCN to provide a licensed mental health counselor two-days per week. 

11.) In partnership with the Mental Health Board of Champaign and Logan Counties, the district will utilize a Navigator program starting in the 2021-22 school year to provide a student and family mental health case manager. 

Student Health: 

1.) The district employs a full-time nurse.

2.) In partnership with Mary Rutan Hospital, all staff and students have full-access to a virtual health clinic during school hours.  Virtual visits are facilitated by the district nurse and patients see a licensed physician.   

3.) Mary Rutan Hospital also provides a full-time athletic trainer to support student health during extracurricular activities.  The trainer assists in the assessment, identification, and assessment of illness. 

3.) All students will receive free breakfast and lunch for the 2021-22 school year through the USDA.  If school is closed due to a pandemic, the district will assess its ability to deliver meals directly to student homes utilizing the same process it used during the spring of 2020. 

 

This plan was created in June of 2021. The district will continue to assess and adjust procedures in accordance with state and local guidelines. The plan will be reviewed at least semi-annually. This document was presented to the public at the June 21, 2021 Indian Lake Board of Education meeting and is posted on the district website at ils-k12.org   

 

 

 

If you wish to make public comment or for any questions or concerns, please contact:

 

Robert J. Underwood, Ed.D.

Superintendent

Indian Lake Schools

6210 State Route 235 N

Lewistown, OH 43333

(937) 686-8601

[email protected]