OKCPS Prepares For Safe Return To School On Monday

There are just four days until school starts at Oklahoma City Public Schools and district leaders say they’re doing everything they can to be prepared to welcome back 30,000 students for in person classes. 

Superintendent Dr. Sean McDaniel said the district is excited for the start of school but are proceeding with caution as COVID cases spike around the state. 

A new state law limits the districts power to mandate mitigation efforts at the district.  Leaving it up to parents, students and staff to keep students safe. 

The district has prepared to move to virtual classes if cases continue to grow in the metro. They are also prepared to implement A/B scheduling if guided to do so by the Oklahoma City-County Health Department. 

"We don't want to shut down the district, we don't want to shut anything down. We want to keep it localized the best we can and not jump immediately to we just need to shut the district down," said Superintendent McDaniel. 

McDaniel said the district is fully staffed for the upcoming school year, with 60% of those teachers self-reporting they have been vaccinated. 

For parents who are hesitant to put their children back in school McDaniel said he wants to assure them they are taking steps to protect the students. 

"I am not competitive so don't take it that way but if there is a district that has taken more steps toward safety man, I'd like to shake their hand. Because we have done lots and lots of things to mitigate the risk," said McDaniel. 

He says safety measures include Ionization throughout the building, an air purification technique, as well as a comprehensive testing protocol.