Osceola County

Here’s how Osceola County plans to keep students safe amid pandemic

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Wednesday marks the last day of summer vacation for many students in Osceola County.

The school year begins Thursday.

District leaders have been working for weeks to make sure the first day back is a success.

READ: Mask or no mask? Some students choosing to cover up on the 1st day of school

Masks are optional in Osceola County schools but the superintendent said if someone becomes sick with COVID-19, seating charts will play an important role in making sure leaders can determine contact tracing and quarantine protocols.

If a student tests positive for COVID-19, Superintendent Debra Pace said schools will look at who was sitting next to the student for more than 15 minutes at a time during the day and if they had close contact.

READ: ‘We need transparency’: State rep. calls for Florida to reinstate daily COVID-19 case data

They will also find out if the student was wearing a face covering and if the student or teacher had been vaccinated.

“If someone feels ill, please stay home,” Pace said. “We’ll make sure we can transition so the student can have access to assignments through Teams or Canvas.”

READ: Here are the COVID-19 protocols for students, staff in Central Florida as new school year begins

The school district has invested in a product they can spray in classrooms and buses every 90 days, which impedes the spread of bacterial and viruses.


Jeff Levkulich

Jeff Levkulich, WFTV.com

Jeff Levkulich joined the Eyewitness News team as a reporter in June 2015.