Union City, Tenn.–In a letter to parents and students, Obion County Director of Schools Tim Watkins said the district still plans to open August 4 as set in the 2020-2021 school calendar.
He said the district will be taking extra precautions to ensure the safety of students and staff, with protocols in place for cleaning, disinfection, monitoring and handling students and staff.
The district has developed a four-phase, color-coded plan for reopening schools with phase 1 (red) for high spread of COVID-19; phase 2 (orange) moderate spread; phase 3 (yellow) minimal spread and phase 4 (green) for low/no spread. Protocols are in place to fit each phase, whichever should apply.
In his letter, Wakins said:
“Obion County Schools truly believes that is in the best interest of our students academically,
socially, and emotionally to be in a traditional school setting. We at Obion County Schools agree
with the American Academy of Pediatrics statement about the importance of students attending
school. They stated, “Schools are fundamental to child and adolescent development and wellbeing and provide our children and adolescents with academic instruction, social and emotional
skills, safety, reliable nutrition, physical/speech and mental health therapy, and opportunities for
physical activity, among other benefits.” We also realize that the Obion County Schools have a
major impact on the economy of our county and region of the state and therefore need schools to
be open so parents can return to work.
Obion County Schools plan to open schools for students on August 4th as planned in our 2020-
2021 school calendar. As always, the safety of our students and staff is our top priority daily. We
will be taking extra precautions and steps to ensure that safety is maintained. We will thoroughly
clean each building and buses daily with special attention to high touch areas. Protocols for
monitoring students and staff have been developed and will be implemented in all school facilities.
Protocols for handling students and staff who may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are showing
symptoms have been developed and will be implemented in all school facilities. The protocols
and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, monitoring, and handling students and staff were
developed in coordination with the guidance from the CDC, State Health Department, and
American Academy of Pediatrics.”
https://www.obioncountyschools.com/cms/lib/TN02208878/Centricity/Domain/399/Reopening%20Plans.pdf