10/16/20 Message from McDaniel: COVID-19 Weekly Update
OKCPS Families and Staff,
Today's reporting from the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) indicates that the cases per 100,000 for Oklahoma County are 27.3 for this week, as compared to 20.7 last week. This means we have now moved back into Orange Level 2 according to the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s (OSDE) Covid Alert Map.
As a reminder, because our state may be faced with a fluctuation between Orange Alert Level 1 and 2 for the foreseeable future, OKCPS believes it is more appropriate and consistent to make any significant instructional changes for our district at the OSDE Red Alert level. This means that the items below would only halt if Oklahoma County were to transition into OSDE’s Red Alert Level and/or if we were to see a significant change to some of our other data points.
Because Oklahoma County is at Orange Level 2 this week, OKCPS will move forward with the following:
- Continuation of High School athletics and extracurricular activities
- Continuation of 90-minute (optional) curricular and co-curricular afterschool activities
- In-person instruction for students with special needs who were in a self-contained classroom will resume Monday, October 19 on a 4 days a week, 4 hours a day schedule (This is the same schedule that was used when these students returned to in-person learning on September 8)
- All district staff will return to full time schedule of 5 days a week in-person on Monday, October 19, and the OKCPS Children in the Workplace program will also resume on Monday, October 19
- Move forward with our plan to welcome our Alternative Education students at Putnam Heights, Emerson North and Emerson South, back to in-person learning in an A/B setting on Monday, October 19
- Move forward with our plan to welcome our Pre-K and Kindergarten students back for in-person learning in an A/B setting after Fall Break on Monday, October 19
- Move forward with our plan to welcome our remaining 1st - 12th grade students, including our Newcomers (new to the United States), back for in-person learning in an A/B setting on Monday, November 9.
OKCPS COVID Reporting
Each Friday, OKCPS will report the number of “self-reported” positive COVID-19 cases, along with the number of individuals who have been asked to quarantine due to potential exposure to the virus.
“Close Contact” Exposure refers to the number of cases when a staff member or student was in “close contact” with a person who has tested positive for COVID and has been asked to quarantine. “Close contact” as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention occurs when an individual is within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days (or 48 hours) before the infected person’s diagnosis.
Self-Reported Positive Cases refers to the number of cases when a staff member or student has notified OKCPS of positive results from a COVID-19 test.
As we see the number of cases rising in Oklahoma County this week, it is extremely important that everyone remain vigilant and follow all safety protocols outlined by the district and other public health agencies. These measures are in place to protect you and the health and safety of those around you and should be followed at all times. Also, for more information on OKCPS Health & Safety Protocols, please visit: www.okcps.org/FAQ
REMINDERS
As a reminder, even as we begin to shift some of our students to the A/B setting, all OKCPS families may continue to call 58-STUDY (587-8839) for academic support or 587-HELP (4357) for technical support. Our 587-FEEL hotline also remains active to provide emotional support and crisis intervention help. Lastly, our “Grab & Go” breakfast, lunch, supper and snack will still be available to any child age 0 to 18 at no cost from Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at all school sites.
As always, the health and safety of our students and staff is our priority and we are grateful for your continued flexibility and patience.
I will update you again next Friday. In the meantime, please stay safe, everyone.
Dr. Sean McDaniel
Superintendent