JVS is gearing up for the 2020-21 school year. “We are excited and ready to welcome back our students next week. Our staff has been working hard to get the building cleaned and our hallways and classrooms ready for students to be socially distant,” said Tina Pelto, high school principal.
Numerous safety measures have been put into place to keep students, and staff safe during this time. Hand sanitation stations have been placed around the building, signage is in place with reminders to practice good hygiene and to stay socially distant, hallways are marked for one way traffic and students will receive a JVS face mask on their first day of school.
Belinda Varner, housekeeping supervisor, shared how her staff is taking extra measures with in-depth cleaning. “My crew is going room by room every day to disinfect the tables, chairs, and anything that the students and staff have come into contact with. This year we are using a vitaloxide disinfectant electronic sprayer, or fogger, that gives an extra level of disinfecting to the areas.”
Students will return to school in a divided or staggered schedule to keep the total number of students as low as possible. All students will be back in their career tech labs for in-person instruction on a rotating schedule of two and three days a week.
An electronic hall pass has also been introduced this year to limit the number of students in hallways and restrooms. Disinfecting wipes will be in every classroom as well, to aide in the cleaning between classes.
The first period of every school day will be devoted to academic intervention. “This was put into place so that every student has a point of contact every day they are here,” said Brandon Kushinski, supervisor. “This will be a good time for students to review their grades with their academic intervention instructor, visit their school counselor, discuss what their needs currently are and make sure that they are able to access all of their online materials. We like to say that this teacher will be those student’s champion.”
The Lorain County JVS Board of Education has also waived all student fees for senior students, and all parking fees are waived this year for student drivers.
Lunches will take place in the career tech labs, to aide in keeping large number of students apart. Those students in the free and reduced lunch program will also be able to sign up for a ‘book bag’ lunch program that will provide them with lunches on the days they are learning remotely.
JVS will begin welcoming students back beginning Monday, August 31.