Hamilton County schools thank local communities for their support as the work continues through the challenges of COVID-19. All schools will welcome students back for a new school year beginning later this summer, and the various districts have come together to share important information regarding the return to school.
Schools participating in this coordinated effort include Carmel Clay Schools, Hamilton Heights School Corporation, Hamilton Southeastern Schools, Noblesville Schools, Options Charter Schools, Sheridan Community Schools, St. Theodore Guerin High School and Westfield Washington Schools.
The safety of students, staff and families is top priority, and the districts say these decisions are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), Fishers Health Department and the Hamilton County Health Department.
All Hamilton County schools are following previously scheduled calendars and will start on the regularly scheduled start dates.
Schools will also:
- Provide flexible options to meet individual student needs, including both online and face-to-face learning.
- Implement daily screening/self-screening procedures for COVID-19 symptoms.
- Ask students and staff to wear masks, at times.
- Maximize facility space with respect to social distancing, including lunch tables spaced out to the greatest extent possible.
- Close water fountains and maintain water bottle fill stations.
- Require students and staff to stay home when ill and create separate spaces in school health clinics to address COVID-19 symptoms.
- Transport students with precautionary safety measures in place.
- Enhance student hygiene practices and building cleaning procedures.
- Restrict visitors.
- Train staff and students on COVID-19 safety measures.
Each school district will share additional, specific details with families in the coming weeks.