Hancock County Indiana Back to School Preview

School is nearly back in session, and it’s going to look different this year for families and staff alike in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The four Hancock County Indiana public school corporations have worked closely together and with the Hancock County Health Department to craft a joint statement on returning to school for the 2020-21 year. Keep reading for more on the health and safety procedures highlighted in this statement.

Resuming In-Person Classes

All four Hancock County Indiana school corporations will resume in-person classes on their regularly scheduled start dates, listed below. Each district will be closely following recommendations from the IN-CLASS statement (Indiana’s Considerations for Learning and Safe Schools) crafted by the Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Department of Education and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Each corporation will also offer a virtual option for families who do not wish to return at this time (contact your local district for more details). As always, the health and safety of Hancock County students, families and staff is top priority, and our corporations are confident in their training and protocols as they welcome your children back to school.

Self-Screening for Physical Health

Hancock County Indiana schools ask that families self-screen for common COVID-19 symptoms, and students and staff should remain at home if they exhibit any of them. These symptoms include: fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion/runny nose, nausea/vomiting and diarrhea.

In addition, individuals should be fever-free for at least 72 hours (without using fever-reducing medication) before returning to classes and activities. In non-COVID-19 cases, a doctor’s note will be considered for an earlier return.

Environmental Health Precautions

Safety precautions among Hancock County Indiana school corporations will include promoting social distancing, enhanced cleaning procedures and reduced capacity in cafeterias, locker rooms, etc. All staff and students should keep a mask with them at all times. Masks will not be required during the entire school day for students, but they should be prepared for required mask wearing during situations where social distancing is more difficult.

Parents should note that visitors will be restricted in the school buildings. In addition, Hancock County Indiana schools have discontinued perfect attendance incentives in order to allow more flexibility for healthy choices. If a positive case of COVID-19 is identified at a school, all rooms where that individual was present will be closed and deep cleaned. The entire school may also be closed by the local health department if positive close contacts cannot be identified.

2020-21 Hancock County Indiana | School Corporation Start Dates

Please be sure to visit your local corporation website to learn about any additional procedures or health guidelines for your specific community. You may also need to indicate your family’s transportation arrangements, aftercare/scheduling needs or plans for in-school vs. virtual learning options before the school year begins.