Add as a preferred source on Google

Utah Gov. Approves Board of Education Requirements for Reopening Schools

  • By Yvonne Marquez
  • 06/29/20

Gov. Gary Herbert approved the Utah State Board of Education’s requirements and recommendations for reopening schools in the state. As per the requirements, all Utah public schools must have reopening plans in place and posted online by August 1.

The plans must address:

  • Repopulating Schools (which includes communication and training, accommodating individual circumstances, enhanced environment hygiene & safety, and school schedules.)
  • Implementation of Mitigation Actions in School Settings (e.g., Classrooms, Transitions, Office Spaces, Transportation, Restrooms, Cafeterias)
  • Monitoring for Incidences
  • Containing Potential Outbreaks
  • Temporarily Reclosing (if necessary)

“We will be digitally meeting with local school leaders throughout the state shortly to provide tools for applying appropriate principles and levers to mitigate risk of spread in school-specific settings,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson in a statement. “We have innovative problem solvers working in our public schools and we will work with districts and charter schools as they create their plans to keep our students and staff safe this coming school year.”

Some of the requirements schools must implement include:

  • Education and training for faculty and staff on school’s protocol and action plans
  • A process for students and families and staff to identify as high risk to COVID-19 and have a plan in place for alternative learning arrangements if needed
  • An increased cleaning and hygiene regimen
  • Faculty and staff must wear face coverings when physical distancing is not feasible
  • Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, soap and water must be readily available
  • A designated quarantine room to temporarily house students who are unable to return home

USBE has provided a handbook and template for schools to use while developing local plans. The board will update the handbook as further research, data, and resources become available. For updated information, visit www.schools.utah.gov/coronavirus.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • Different Starting Points, Same End Goal

    Higher education campuses can enhance student experience by implementing mobile credentials to streamline building access, on-campus payments, and access to other amenities. This enables students to connect to their campuses through the technology they use most: their mobile devices.

  • restroom sinks

    CSU Dominguez Hills Standardizes Plumbing to Improve Restroom Maintenance and Efficiency

    At California State University, Dominguez Hills, facilities leaders have taken steps to standardize restroom fixtures as part of a broader effort to improve maintenance efficiency and control long-term costs.

  • DLR Group Appoints New K–12 Education Practice Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has named its new global K–12 Education leader, Senior Principal Carmen Wyckoff, AIA, LEED AP, according to a news release. Her teams have members in all 36 of the firm’s offices in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Europe, and Asia.

  • Beyond Four Walls

    Operable glass walls provide a dynamic solution for educational spaces. They align with today’s evolving teaching methods and adapt to the needs of modern learners. Beyond the functional versatility, movable glass walls offer clean, contemporary aesthetics, slim and unobtrusive profiles, and versatile configurations that cater to the evolving needs of students and educators alike.

Digital Edition