Face Masks Will Be Required Inside Heights Schools, District Says

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — Students, faculty and staff will wear face coverings inside Heights Schools buildings this year, the district announced.

Visitors to any school building will also be required to wear face masks. As the delta variant of COVID-19 drives a nationwide surge in cases and hospitalizations, district officials felt it wise to follow the guidance of leading medical organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and the Ohio Department of Health.

Here are the district's other plans to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the district:

• Physical barriers will be placed in eating areas, since students cannot wear masks while eating. Should a staff member or parent have special needs and want a barrier at their desk, or their child's desk, they can contact their building supervisor or building principal. Choir and band classes may continue to use barriers due to the special nature of their performances.
• Buildings, classrooms, bathrooms, buses and any other areas with high-touch frequency will be cleaned thoroughly throughout the day.
• Portable air filters will be in each elementary school classroom.
• The district's HVAC settings are aligned with CDC recommendations to bring in as much outdoor air as possible.
• Staff and students should conduct health assessments on themselves before coming to school each day. If they have any sign of illness, they should stay home and contact a doctor.
• Hand sanitizer will be available throughout all school buildings, in classrooms and on school buses.
• Time for hand washing will be built into each day.
• If a student tests positive for COVID-19, parents should contact the school district as soon as possible. Staff must report their own cases to supervisors. The school nurse and the COVID-19 investigation team will then conduct contact tracing to see who may have been exposed.
• Remote learning options will be available through the Tiger Virtual Academy.

Read more: Unvaccinated Students Should Wear Masks In Ohio: ODH

The Heights Schools will have in-person classes, five days a week, as long as conditions allow, the district said. Anyone who is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, should do so, the district said.

Last week, the Ohio Department of Health held a news conference recommending unvaccinated students, staff and teachers don face masks for the coming school year. Concern is particularly high for vulnerable populations as the delta variant is spreading rapidly in Ohio, according to Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, the department's chief medical officer.

Ohio legislators and Gov. Mike DeWine barred schools from requiring students or staff from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, until the vaccines receive full approval from the Food and Drug Administration. All three COVID-19 vaccines — from Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — were granted emergency approval, but not full approval.