Suffolk Public Schools » COVID-19 » 2021-22 Return to Learn
"BACK AND BETTER"
*SPS encourages vaccines for those who are eligible
COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet
On Thursday, August 12, 2021, the School Board of the City of Suffolk voted to approve the Suffolk Public Schools 2021-2022 Return to Learn Plan. All schools will be open for in-person learning five days a week. The Center for Disease Control (CDC), Virginia Department of Health, (VDH), Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recommend that children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.
The procedures listed below will be implemented for the start of the 2021-22 school year. These plans can be updated at any time based on updated guidance from the health department. Please see the following:
Masks will be required of all staff, students and visitors within any SPS facility and on all buses. SPS mask-wearing is in accordance with the legislation from Gov. Ralph Northam, which mandated divisions to follow the guidance of the CDC, regardless of vaccination status. Masks will NOT be required outside.
Visitors will be limited to the lobby/main office (with the exception of Back to School orientation).
3 ft. of physical distancing will be maintained to the greatest extent possible, including outdoors.
Breakfast and lunch may be served in classrooms, the school cafeteria, or on rotation between the classrooms and the school cafeteria.
Bottle fill stations will be available for all students and staff.
Facilities and Maintenance/Custodial teams will continue to clean and disinfect buildings daily.
The COVID-19 Dashboard will continue to be updated weekly, and will remain available on the division's homepage, along with the updated 2021-22 COVID Resource Guide.
The health and safety of students and staff is the top priority when making the decision to reopen our schools. The Suffolk Public Schools administrative team continues to be in communication with the Suffolk Health Department. We will also continue to follow all updates and guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Education.