Cincinnati Public Faculties’ amended security protocols: What’s modified?

The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education changed the district’s COVID-19 security protocols during a board meeting on Monday evening.

A controversial conversation about There was never an official vote on mandatory COVID-19 vaccines for employees By the board. The district says more than 70% of its faculty and staff have been vaccinated.

More: Cincinnati public school unions want incentives for COVID-19 vaccines, not a requirement

Governor Mike DeWine signed last week House bill 244, Which includes language that prevents public schools and universities from using COVID-19 vaccines because they were approved for emergency clearance, a rigorous process that is not yet fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

It will take 90 days for the law to go into effect, and by then, vaccines could get full FDA approval, making the language controversial.

More: The GOP legislature’s bill would ban mask requirements in Ohio public schools and universities

The board again did not vote on the vaccine request and barely discussed it during the board meeting on Monday evening. However, they discussed and changed other security protocols.

COVID-19-related safety protocols introduced early in the 2020-2021 school year included temperature controls at school building entrances, staggered bus arrivals and departures, wearing masks, and social distancing.

On Monday the board decided that the following protocols are no longer required:

• Temperature controls at building entrances.
• Staggered bus arrival and departure.

The following activities are now allowed:

• Trips.
• Visitors and volunteers in school buildings as long as they follow all safety protocols.
• Work-related travel.
• Common materials among students, such as crayons, pencils, etc.
• At least three feet of social distancing during meals when the masks are removed.

The board of directors has yet to agree on changed quarantine regulations or mask requirements for yellow school buses. Masks are also required in school buildings.

CPS encourages students and families to get their COVID-19 vaccines. Students can get vaccinated at clinics in CPS school buildings in collaboration with the Cincinnati Health Department:

• July 21, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm at Woodward Career Technical High School, 7005 Reading Road.
• July 22nd from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Roselawn Condon School, 1594 Summit Road.
• July 23 from 8 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at Dater Montessori School, 2840 Boudinot Avenue.

Anyone 12 years or older is entitled to a vaccination.