State makes new recommendations for school operations during pandemic

The state released new recommendations for school operations during the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday, one month after schools around the state began to open their doors for in-person instruction. 

The color-coded system based on three key metrics — the number of new cases per 100,000 residents, percent positivity and change in percent positivity from the previous week — is in line with what many school districts, teachers and families have been asking the state to provide since early in the summer when schools were working to develop reopening plans.

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As the state saw a surge of new COVID-19 cases in mid-July, many school districts began amending their reopening plans to delay the start of the school year or began with online learning rather than in-person instruction. 

The new system recommends that schools in all but the hardest hit counties remain open for at least some level of in-person instruction. 

Gov. Eric Holcomb and Dr. Kristina Box, state health commissioner, have led the state's response to the pandemic and have insisted that reopening decisions are best left in the hands of local school boards and leaders, while encouraging districts to reopen for in-person instruction if at all possible. 

While Box has made recommendations for how schools should operate in-person instruction — cohorting students into groups, good hand hygiene and social distancing in classrooms and school facilities — there have been no requirements for schools that reopen, outside of the state mask mandate, which applies to students in grades 3 and up. Holcomb extended the state's mask mandate Wednesday for another 30 days. 

Assign scores on metrics

Box has been reticent to set infection rate thresholds for school behavior. Some school districts and county health departments have done so on their own, creating a patchwork system where different school districts within a single county are sometimes operating differently. 

She said Wednesday the pivot to the color-coded school recommendations based on infection rate thresholds was due to the "multitude of individuals" that have asked for such guidance. 

The new system will assign scores to counties based on the metrics. The score will coordinate with a color-coded rating system for the county's level of community spread and risk. 

The colors are:

• Blue: minimal community spread, indicating schools can operate all grades in person but limit activities where social distancing is not feasible
• Yellow: moderate community spread, indicating schools can operate all grades in person but increase vigilance in distancing, hand hygiene and masks
• Orange: moderate to high community spread, indicating grade schools can operate in person but a strong recommendation for hybrid learning for middle and high school students
• Red: high community spread, indicating grade schools can operate in person or consider hybrid learning and consider for virtual learning for middle and high school students

Box said the state is still requesting school districts "make every effort" to keep at least one school building open, regardless of infection rate, to assist students with remote learning and ensure a safe environment. 

The new system creates recommendations, but does require schools to follow them. The color-coded map will go live online next week, Box said. 

At least 350 cases connected to schools

Some schools have already made the decision to not reopen their classrooms to start the year, instead sticking with a virtual instruction model. Others delayed the original start of their academic year, but nearly all schools have restarted their academic years in some way already. 

IndyStar has been tracking cases of COVID-19 connected to schools since they reopened and have confirmed at least 350 cases among students, faculty and staff since July 1.

There are roughly 1 million Hoosier children in the state's public schools, though not all of those have returned for in-person instruction. Even districts that have opened their buildings are, in most cases, offering a full-time online option. 

The statewide mask mandate, first announced one month ago, will be extended for another 30 days as the state holds stage in Stage 4.5 of its reopening plan. The mandate applies to all students in third grade and above.

There are exceptions for students with disabilities and in certain settings in which proper social distancing can be maintained. The mandate also applies to all faculty and staff. 

The original announcement that masks would be mandatory in schools came at the request of the Indiana State Teachers Association, which had asked the governor to implement such a requirement. 

Call IndyStar education reporter Arika Herron at 317-201-5620 or email her at Arika.Herron@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @ArikaHerron.