Hamilton Southeastern Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff has spoken about regular collaboration among the school districts and other schools within Hamilton County as recently as the Wednesday night regular school board meeting.  On Thursday, the schools of Hamilton County issued a joint statement about plans to reopen their buildings for the coming school year.

Below is the text of that statement:

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Hamilton County schools would like to thank our communities for their support as we continue to work through the challenges of COVID-19. We are pleased to announce we will be welcoming students back for a new school year beginning later this summer, and have come together to share important information regarding this return to school.

The safety of our students, staff and families is our top priority and our return to school decisions are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH), Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), Fishers Health Department and the Hamilton County Health Department.

All Hamilton County schools are following our previously scheduled calendars and will start on our regularly scheduled start date.

We will also be:

● Providing flexible options to meet individual student needs, including both online and face-to-face learning.

● Implementing daily screening/self-screening procedures for COVID-19 symptoms.

● Asking students and staff to wear masks, at times.

● Maximizing facility space with respect to social distancing, including lunch tables spaced out to the greatest extent possible.

● Closing water fountains and maintaining water bottle fill stations.

● Requiring students and staff to stay home when ill and creating separate spaces in school health clinics to address COVID-19 symptoms.

● Transporting students with precautionary safety measures in place.

● Enhancing student hygiene practices and building cleaning procedures.

● Restricting visitors.

● Training staff and students on COVID-19 safety measures.

Each school district will be sharing additional, specific details with our families in the coming weeks.

As always, thank you for your patience and support as we work together to safely bring students back to school.

Carmel Clay Schools

Hamilton Heights School Corporation

Hamilton Southeastern Schools

Noblesville Schools

Options Charter Schools

Sheridan Community Schools

St. Theodore Guerin High School

Westfield Washington Schools