COVID-19 Response
Throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic, Tulsa Pubic Schools has continued to work closely with local health professionals to keep our students, team, and families safe and healthy. As we move forward together, our district will continue to make decisions based on science, data, and the advice of health experts.
2020-2021 School Year Overview
We are enthusiastic about welcoming your children back to learning in the 2020–2021 school year! While our school experiences will look and feel different this year, our teachers and school leaders will engage our students in rigorous learning, build and sustain meaningful teacher/student relationships, and keep children and families connected to their schools even, at times, from a safe distance.
Important contacts
| Department | Phone | |
|---|---|---|
| Athletics | 918-746-6453 | cloudgi@tulsaschools.org |
| Child Nutrition | 918-833-8670 | cns@tulsaschools.org |
| Education Service Center | 918-746-6800 | TPSinfo@tulsaschools.org |
| Enrollment | 918-746-7500 | enroll@tulsaschools.org |
| Safety | 918-480-SAFE | share@tulsaschools.org |
| Special Education | 918-746-6114 | exceptionalstudents@tulsaschools.org |
| Student and Family Support Services | 918-746-6329 | kennema@tulsaschools.org |
| Student Tech Support | 918-833-TECH | studentVL@tulsaschools.org |
| Transportation | 918-833-8100 | csctrans@tulsaschools.org |
2020-2021 School Year Calendar
With conditions changing by the day, our 2020-2021 school calendar is designed with three different scheduling options based on potential COVID-19 infection rates in Tulsa. We will work closely with local health professionals and city leaders to make decisions about changes in our schedule across the year.
Health and Safety Protocols
We continue to work with the Tulsa Health Department and other local and national health professionals to ensure that we are keeping our students, team, and families safe.
While we will begin the 2020-2021 school year in distance learning, safety practices are being implemented throughout the district in preparation for when it is safe for students to return to in-person learning. These practices include:
- Social Distancing: Maintaining social distancing (6' apart) between students.
- Personal Protective Equipment: We will be prepared to provide the appropriate personal protective equipment to our students and employees. For as long as is necessary to ensure safety, most students and all adults will be required to wear a mask when around other people. Young children and children with some special needs will be exceptions.
- New Building Signage: Our schools and sites with have signage about hygiene, social distancing, and safe and healthy behaviors (i.e. minimizing contact, wearing masks.)
- Ventilation: Improved air filtration and/or ventilation systems at each school to minimize the potential airborne transmission of the virus in schools.
- Sanitizing High-touch Surfaces: Custodians will have a focus on cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects: tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, toilets, sinks, handrails, and water bottle filling stations.
- Transportation: Capacity on our buses will be reduced by approximately 30%. The buses will be disinfected, staff and students will wear face coverings and the windows open for ventilation.
- Child Nutrition: Meals will be served using the same distribution system as the current summer cafe model.
- Enhanced Personal Hygiene: All schools and buildings will have adequate handwashing stations and hand sanitizer dispensers, disinfectant cleaner and wipes in the classrooms.
- Health Checks: We will require temperature checks for adults and ask parents to complete a health screening for students before school. Anyone feeling unwell will be safely separated.
- Intensified Cleaning Techniques: Custodians will use handheld electrostatic sprayers and Biospray tanks to increase effectiveness and efficiency in disinfecting procedures.
Case Response and Reporting
Health Checks
Temperature checks are required for adults, and we ask parents to complete a health screening for students.
If students and staff are sick:
- For students: parents should keep their children home and notify their teacher/school(s).
- For staff: notify immediate supervisor and stay home.
- If a staff member or student become sick with COVID-19 symptoms, test positive for COVID-19, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 symptoms or a confirmed or suspected case, they should notify their health care provider, Tulsa Health Department, their immediate supervisor, and school officials.
Should staff (and/or anyone in our buildings) reports they have COVID-19 symptoms and have tested positive:
- Each location will identify an isolation room and will have information available to contact Tulsa Health Department for access to free testing.
- Information will be logged to help monitor data and contact tracing.
- District personnel will notify local health officials, staff, and families immediately of a possible case while maintaining confidentiality consistent with the ADA and other applicable federal and state privacy laws.
- Areas used will be closed off immediately for 24 hours and will not be used until cleaning and disinfecting measures are performed.
- People who test positive will not return to the building until they have met the criteria to discontinue home isolation according to CDC and Tulsa Health Department guidelines.
- Inform those who have had close contact to a person diagnosed with COVID-19 to stay home and follow CDC and Tulsa Health Department guidance. If symptoms develop, and/or guidance for home quarantine, staff will follow-up with Talent Management for guidance.