OKCPS Releases Its Back To School Safety Plan For The 2021-2022 School Year

After a school year filled with virtual learning, students are gearing up to get back to the classroom full-time.

Oklahoma City Public Schools is making sure their facilities are prepared for students when they enter the buildings on August 9. 

While in-person enrollment has been opened at sites around the city, the school district is making plans in case the number of COVID-19 cases in the city continues to rise. 

"Contingency could be going back to an A and B schedule," said Brad Herzer, the person charge of safety and security for the district. 

For now, school administrators are excited to get their students back in the classroom. 

"Our offices are staffed right now and ready for enrollment," said Scott Farley, the principal at Roosevelt Middle School. 

Herzer and administrators are facing many barriers in the fight against COVID, the largest being children under the age of 12 not being eligible for the vaccine and state laws banning the district from requiring masks in schools. 

Despite those challenges, the district says they are doing what they can. That includes giving students a little extra space in classrooms and extra cleanings in facilities. 

"Every facility has an air ionization system that has been installed that purifies the air," said Herzer. 

As of right now, from self-reported data to the district, about 56% of teachers have been vaccinated. 

"Students and staff that are unvaccinated will still be required to quarantine," said Herzer. "If you are fully vaccinated and you aren't showing symptoms you don't have to." 

The district said they are working with OCCHD to offer vaccines during the school day to kids who are eligible if they have parental consent.