Boone County Health Department is not requiring us to do permissions for events [clubs, athletics, performing arts and special event] or to reduce the size of events at this point,” Robison shared. “I think this is very positive, and it gets us back to that sense of ‘normalcy’ that we want.” Robison is strongly advising parents to do their part and keep children home if they are ill and to report to the school when COVID-19 positives are known to help maintain the “safe zone” going forward.
WILL MASKS BE MANDATORY?
Zionsville
Community Schools Are All Together Again Writer // Janelle Morrison • Photography // Janelle Morrison and submitted
What a summer it has been! And as we look at commencing the 2021–22 school year that resembles more of a prepandemic start, I spoke with ZCS Superintendent Dr. Scott Robison about what families, students and educators can expect on the first day of school and beyond beginning Aug. 3, 2021.
BACK TO “NORMAL”
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er ZCS’ communications: All plans for the start of school on Aug. 3, 2021, are subject to change based on public health data, guidance, state and/or county directive and the responsibility of the ZCS board of trustees to govern the local public school program. Robison confirmed that all ZCS schools will be back to in-person five days a week. “Our position is we’re going to be all in-person,” Robison said. “We are offering a school program that looks like 2019 in terms of schedules and the ability for stu-
dents to access the curriculum in-person, every day, with our teachers.” Unlike last year, the plans that Robison submitted and were approved by the ZCS board of trustees for this school year did not need the approval of the local health department—another sign that our county is moving in the right direction with regards to vaccinations and COVID-19 positivity numbers. “With the vaccination rates being so high and the very low impact thus far on young people who are unvaccinated—obviously that is something that will continue to be monitored as we go forward—the
ZIONSVILLE MONTHLY
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The governor’s order for masks in all school facilities ended on June 30. The ZCS board of trustees decided at their July 12, 2021 meeting to “strongly recommend masks to be worn indoors for people who are not fully vaccinated.” Masks will be required on all school buses and other transportation as required by federal mandate, and mitigation protocols of handwashing, hand sanitizing, enhanced HVAC recirculation, closed water fountains, etc., will continue until further notice. A recent message from Robison to the entire ZCS school community stated, “Masks strongly recommended indoors for people who are not fully vaccinated. Our Board of Trustees was singularly appointed by the Governor to make the final call regarding masks in schools. They and our C19 Task Force continue monitoring for the possible CoVID-19 spread implications of summer travel and the increasing opening of life as we used to know it. And all protocols related to CoVID-19 mitigation in our schools will be subject to ongoing virus spread statistics, public health and governmental officials’ directives, and Board of Trustees responsibility to oversee the public school program in ZCS.” For the record, vaccines are not required for anyone by ZCS, though they are strongly recommended for all who are eligible by ZCS administrators and by the Boone County Health Department. ZCS will continue to comply with health authorities’ request that they supply daily information on reported COVID-19 positives and will continue with contact tracing and implementation
JULY 2021
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