Oasis Charter School system preparing for new normal amid coronavirus pandemic

Southwest Florida school districts are getting innovative and spending big money to make sure your child’s classroom is disinfected.

“We really have to get our ducks in a row and we have to do it pretty quickly,” said Cape Coral’s Oasis Charter School system superintendent, Jaqcueline Collins.

You could only imagine how many issues have to be fixed before students sit back in the classrooms.

“A huge way of re-thinking how schools are designed,” Collins said. “They are designed for students to collaborate and work together in close quarters.”

For the next school year, there’s even a new way to clean.

“We have purchased electrostatic sprayers so every night we can mist an entire room and get all surfaces so we can ensure the entire classroom is disinfected before the students come back,” she explained.

A massive undertaking every, single night. What will it look like during the school day? Constant cleaning.

“Stairwells, doorknobs, desks, close down water fountains and do water bottle filling stations instead,” Collins said.

students will wear face masks in hallways, while in line for food in the cafeteria and as they get their temperature checked each morning.

While teachers are excited to see students again, they’re worried.

“The biggest worry is not necessarily exposure, it is how do I teach students that are face to face and students that want to return virtually,” Collins explained.

Many of you weighed in last month — when asked by the superintendent, only 10% of parents wanted a virtual option. A new survey done last week shows that number is now up to 48%. They are re-working how to teach virtually and will present plans to the governing board on Tuesday.