COVID-19 Information
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Health and safety remain the focus of Omaha Public Schools as we continue the 2021-22 school year. We care deeply about our students, staff and families. Our district is in regular contact with public health officials, medical experts and the Nebraska Department of Education. Conditions may still change in the coming year, and that may require us to adjust some protocols. We will communicate updates directly to staff and families.As one of the first large, urban school districts to return in-person in 2020, the entire Omaha Public Schools community can be proud of our collective commitment to young people. Our data has shown that students need to be in class, connected and learning with one another. We can do it, together.
We will continue many health and safety protocols to maintain in-person learning. Enhanced disinfecting of high-touch surfaces, classrooms and shared materials will be part of our daily routine. Handwashing and hand sanitizing will occur frequently throughout the day. Schools may adjust traffic patterns to minimize crowds when possible. Our district will continue to partner with public health to host COVID-19 vaccination clinics and encourage anyone eligible to be vaccinated, in consultation with their doctor.
Additional specifics on our health and safety protocols are below:
COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies
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- UPDATED: Vaccines and face coverings
- Face coverings are optional for all students, staff and visitors inside district schools and offices effective Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.
- Staff and families should continuously monitor their health. If a student or staff member feels ill, they must stay home.
- Since early 2021, Omaha Public Schools has partnered with the Douglas County Health Department (DCHD) to host over 175 COVID-19 vaccination clinics with more clinics scheduled to come.
- Omaha Public Schools encourages everyone eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in consultation with their doctor.
- Enhanced disinfecting measures
- School campuses will undergo cleaning and sanitization procedures at least daily.
- Frequently touched surfaces will be sanitized with an EPA-approved disinfectant or sprayed with an ionizer at least daily.
- Shared materials, including computer labs and other hands-on resources, should be disinfected between uses.
- Student desks should be wiped down with an EPA-approved disinfectant or sprayed with an ionizer at the end of each day.
- Hygiene
- Staff will work with students to teach and reinforce proper handwashing.
- Hand sanitizer will be available throughout schools, where permitted by the fire marshal.
- Staff will work with students on “respiratory etiquette,” like covering coughs and washing hands.
- Signage throughout schools will share strategies to limit the spread of germs.
- Handwashing or sanitizing will be part of the routine when moving throughout the school, before and after mealtimes and more.
- Mealtimes
- Students will wash or sanitize hands before and after every meal.
- Staff will follow public health recommendations and food safety will be prioritized at all levels.
- Schools may adjust routines based on the needs of their location.
- Adjusted routines
- Physical distancing should be maximized whenever possible.
- Schools may adjust traffic patterns based on the needs of their location.
- The use of shared materials should be limited when possible and disinfected between uses.
- Use of water fountains will not be permitted for health and safety reasons. Schools will identify solutions, like individual water bottles for students.
- Visitors to school
- Visits to schools must be planned in advance with school administrators.
- Hand sanitizer will be available near the main entrance.
- Contact tracing and communication
- Each school will have a designated, isolated location for students who show symptoms of COVID-19. Any staff working in the area will have appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Families will be contacted immediately to pick up their student.
- The building contact tracing designee will work with Omaha Public Schools health services staff to complete the contract tracing process.
- Close contacts of an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive direct communication and guidance, based on recommendations from public health and the specific circumstances of that close contact.
- Schools will continue to communicate by email with all staff and families if an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 was on their campus while contagious.
- UPDATED: Vaccines and face coverings
FAQ
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What is Omaha Public Schools doing to protect staff and students in the 2021-22 school year?
Health and safety is our priority. We understand the importance of caring for the social and emotional wellbeing of our staff and students.
Enhanced disinfecting procedures will continue.
Our district will continue to partner with the Douglas County Health Department to host and promote awareness of COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Our district has partnered to host more than 175 vaccine clinics since spring 2021.
Face coverings will be optional for all students, staff and visitors inside district schools and offices effective Friday, Feb. 25, 2022.
Handwashing will be part of the regular routine and hand sanitizer will be available throughout the school, where permitted by the fire marshal.
When possible, groups will be minimized and social distancing maximized.
If an individual is diagnosed with COVID-19 when on site, we will trace contacts and notify the school community like we did in the 2020-21 school year.
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Why did Omaha Public Schools update its face covering policy?
Face coverings are optional inside Omaha Public Schools campuses.
Our district has been a leader, both locally and nationally, throughout the pandemic. Staff monitor health conditions in our schools and community each day.
We have seen a significant decrease in COVID-19 cases since December and January 2022. As of Feb. 16, 2022, the Douglas County Health Department rescinded Omaha’s community mask mandate.
We can all do our part to protect one another:
- talk with your doctor and get a vaccine against COVID-19 if you are eligible
- take health and safety precautions in your daily routines outside of school
- stay home if you are sick
Schools are part of our larger community. We cannot do this alone. We can do this together.
Staff, students, families and visitors are welcome to continue wearing a face covering for as long as they wish to. We know many staff, students and families have become comfortable without a face covering when shopping, eating or otherwise spending time in the community.
The update applied only to face coverings. The following layered protocols remain:
- We encourage all eligible individuals to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including a booster dose. Our district has hosted 175 vaccine clinics with more scheduled.
- Students and staff who feel ill must stay home.
- Enhanced disinfecting procedures will continue.
- Isolation guidance following a COVID-19 diagnosis remains the same.
- Communication to schools following a COVID-positive individual on campus will continue.
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What are the face covering requirements?
Face coverings are optional inside Omaha Public Schools campuses.
Those who wish to continue wearing a face covering are welcome to do so.
Face coverings are not required outdoors.
Early childhood classrooms will follow the same health and safety protocols as other grade levels. Face coverings are optional for staff and students. Anyone in an early childhood classroom is welcome to continue wearing a face covering if they wish. Should federal guidance connected to Head Start classrooms evolve, we will communicate directly with impacted staff and families.
Schools and offices may not establish their own face covering requirements.
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Are face coverings required on a school bus?
Face coverings are optional on school buses.
Those who wish to continue wearing a face covering are welcome to do so.
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Could face coverings be needed again in the future?
It is possible that future public health requirements or case clusters could require an individual classroom or school to temporarily wear face coverings again.
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Are face coverings required for an individual who tests positive for COVID-19 and returns after isolating for five days?
Face coverings will not be required; but recommended. We continue to work with health experts on guidance for those who test positive. Students and staff who receive a positive test result should reach out to their school
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Are face coverings be required for close contacts with a known positive COVID-19?
Face coverings will not be required; but recommended.
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Can I enroll my student in the Remote Learning Program again?
The Remote Learning Program concluded in May 2021. The only blended learning option for the 2021-22 school year is the Omaha Virtual School, which involves four days of distance learning and one day in-person at the Omaha Public Schools Teacher Administrative Center. In the OVS program, there is not live instruction throughout the day as students experienced in the Remote Learning Program. Families can contact the OVS office or Student Placement for more information.
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Why did Omaha Public Schools not continue the Remote Learning Program?
Our academic data from the 2020-21 school year showed students need to be connected and learning in-person. The decision to conclude a remote program mirrors similar transitions by metro area school districts.
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Will visitors be allowed in schools?
Visitors will be allowed, but advance coordination with school leadership is needed. That includes community partners, volunteers, family members and guest speakers.
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Why might some school procedures look different?
Our district provided overarching guidelines and expectations to all schools. Schools will make decisions related to specific procedures based on their capacity and what works best in their school setting. Families who have questions should reach out to their school principal. Schools may not establish their own face covering procedures or protocols. Face coverings are optional inside Omaha Public Schools campuses.
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Will elementary schools be allowed to have classroom parties?
Classroom parties will be allowed, with special attention to health and safety. Teachers and principals should be mindful of the disruption to instructional time since March 2020.
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Could protocols change in the year to come?
Yes. We expect conditions to change and guidance to evolve. We are in regular contact with public health and medical partners. We will communicate any updates to staff and families.
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What should staff do if they or a family member are sick?
If a staff member or student is sick, they must stay home.
Staff should email covidreporting@ops.org to report a positive COVID-19 test result.
Staff should follow their absence notification process, to include submitting each day of their absence in Frontline (certified staff) or OPS Anywhere (classified staff).
Strict adherence to these guidelines protects other members of our community and allows in-person learning to proceed more successfully.
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When will COVID-19 restrictions end?
At this time, health officials do not know when COVID-19 will have less of an impact on our daily lives. As a district, our priority is student and staff health and safety and addressing teaching and learning after three disrupted school years. We will continue to work with state and local officials to make decisions that prioritize health and safety related COVID-19, as long as it is necessary.
COVID-19 Dashboard
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District Weekly Summary for May 13, 2022Current Active CasesStaff
10 Students21
This dashboard is updated weekly on Fridays with data current as of 2 p.m. that day. Due to case levels in the Omaha community, we know there will be cases identified in our schools. Schools are notified of any positive cases if someone was contagious on-site. The number of cases does not necessarily indicate transmission within schools.
