Here's What Pasco Parents Can Expect When School Starts Monday

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Dressed in new school outfits that include mandatory face masks, about 54,000 students will return to school in Pasco County Monday.

Despite the ongoing controversy over reopening schools due to the coronavirus, nearly 70 percent of Pasco County parents intend to send their children back to brick-and-mortar classrooms.

The remaining public schools students will be taught online through an e-learning program connected to the student's assigned school or through Pasco County Virtual School.

Despite a lawsuit filed by the United School Employees of Pasco objecting to the resumption of in-person classes Aug. 24, the Pasco County School District heeded the Florida Department of Education's emergency order mandating that public schools reopen this month or face funding cuts.

In its lawsuit, the teachers' union asked that all public school classes be held online until the coronavirus rate stabilizes in Pasco County.

The World Health Organization has advised governments that, before reopening schools, the rate of positive cases should be at 5 percent or lower for at least 14 days.

The Florida Department of Health received the test results for 919 Pasco County residents Saturday. Sixty-nine residents tested positive, a rate of 7.51 percent.

However, the weekly positive rate in Pasco County has been on a steady decline since Aug. 11 when it dropped below 5 percent. On Aug. 16, the weekly rate was 4.35 percent.

Kurt Browning, superintendent of Pasco County Schools, the 10th largest school district in Florida, said the school day experience will be look different from past years due to the need to safeguard students and staff against the coronavirus.

High school students will no longer be allowed to hang around their lockers, talking to friends in between classes. And elementary students will no longer scramble to line up for recess.

Here are some changes parents can expect:

• Face coverings are mandatory for students, staff and visitors. Students who are not able to tolerate face coverings due to a medical condition or disability will be exempt if they have written documentation from their doctor. Students who refused to wear face coverings will be taken out of their brick-and-mortar schools and placed in an online learning format.
• All parents must screen their students for symptoms before sending them to school each morning including a temperature of more than 100.4 degrees, sore throat, uncontrolled cough, diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain, severe headache, body aches, loss of sense of smell or taste and congestion. If the answer is "yes," the student is required to stay home for at least 10 days.
• Social distancing will be in place in classroom, hallways and cafeteria, with signage in place reminding students to keep 6 feet apart. One-way traffic flows inside buildings will be created where feasible. There will be decals and tape on the floor throughout the cafeteria serving line.
• Classrooms will be equipped with spray bottles of germicide and microfiber cloths and hand-sanitizing stations will be placed in high-traffic areas.
• Classrooms, cafeteria tables, high-touch areas and schools buses will be regularly cleaned and disinfected every day. There will also be strict cleaning procedures for athletic venues, sports equipment, locker rooms and restrooms.
• For a complete list of new protocols, click here.

See related stories:

• Pasco Teachers' Union Sues School District Over Plans To Reopen
• Pasco Schools To Delay Start Of School 2 Weeks
• Pasco Schools Plan To Mandate Masks
• Teachers, Parents Anxious As Aug. 24 School Reopening Looms
• Education Commissioner Says School Board Violated State Order
• Hillsborough Board Votes To Delay School Reopening 4 More Weeks