September 11, 2023
Dear Raider Families:
At Reynoldsburg City Schools, we are committed to the health and safety of our students and staff. In order to maintain a healthy and safe environment, there are two important items I want to share with you: student wellness and safety drills.
The single most important thing we can all do to maintain a healthy learning environment is to stay home when sick or experiencing symptoms of any illness. RCS will monitor any illness related absences that are reported in excess in our buildings, including COVID.
The CDC weekly county report continues to show all three RCS counties remain at a low incidence rate.
RCS will observe the following COVID protocols adapted from the current CDC guidelines:
- If a person tests positive(regardless of variation or vaccination status)
- Must stay home for 5 days after the positive COVID test or start of symptoms (6 days total if you include the day of the positive test).
- If symptoms resolve after the 6th day, the person can return. If symptoms are still present, the person should stay home until symptoms have cleared.
- When the person returns to school, it is RECOMMENDED that they wear a mask for the next 5 days.
- If it is suspected the person is positive (has symptoms)
- Follow the step above, as if the person has tested positive.
- If the person has close contact with someone who tests positive
- RECOMMENDEDthat the person masks and monitors symptoms for 10 days.
- If the person begins to show symptoms, follow the steps as if the person has tested positive.
We will continue to lean on the advice and direction of our state and local health departments, the CDC, and our health and wellness staff regarding any health concerns that the district needs to be concerned with. For more information regarding COVID guidelines and to access a helpful COVID isolation calculator please visit
CDC-COVID.
In order to maintain a safe environment, it is necessary to practice our emergency and crisis response plans by having drills designed to exercise our procedures. We will be conducting the following drills throughout the school year.
Fire
We want each student to understand and be aware of the importance of this drill and not be afraid when the fire alarm has sounded. During the fire drill students and staff will exit the building to predetermined staging areas. By practicing, they will know what to do and how to do it.
Lockdown
This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff and visitors inside the building. The purpose of this drill is to keep the students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. During a lockdown drill, all perimeter doors to the school building will be secured, and will remain secured until the danger has passed. No one will be allowed to enter or leave the building until the authorities release the lockdown.
Shelter-in-Place/Tornado
The shelter-in-place drill will be conducted each school year. The purpose of this drill is to be prepared to move to a safe location within the building in case of severe weather such as tornadoes.
Evacuation
During an evacuation drill, students will be safely escorted along a designated evacuation route to one of our predetermined evacuation sites. Students will be escorted back to the school after the drill is finished.
School staff will be guiding the students throughout the drills. We encourage you to talk with your child about these drills and reassure them this is being done to help keep them safe.
We appreciate your partnership to keep our staff, students, and community safe and healthy this academic year. If you have any questions or concerns as to the health of your student, please contact your school clinic or Lead Nurse Sarah Adkins, RN at (614) 501-4032. If you have any questions about the safety drills or other safety concerns, please contact your school office or Director of Safety & Security Jim Ramsey at
[email protected].
Regards,
Dr. Tracy R. Reed
Superintendent