Note: This policy is subject to change pursuant to state, county or city ordinances regarding screening and isolation or new guidance provided by the CDC, ODH, ODE, local health departments or any other prevailing authority

The OSD and OSSB COVID-19 Athletics, Extracurriculars and Band Policy covers all athletic extracurricular events where students are actively engaged in athletic activities on OSD or OSSB’s campus[1] , including practices, games, tournaments, banquets, and any other events associated with participating in OSD and/or OSSB’s athletics, extracurriculars or band.   This policy applies to all of the aforementioned which occur on OSD and OSSB’s campus as well as OSD and/or OSSB’s sponsored trips off-campus for any of the aforementioned events.   

Face Coverings [2]:

Students are not required to wear face coverings when they are actively engaged in athletic activities on OSD or OSSB’s campus. This includes participation in the band and other extracurricular activities where physical exertion requires the removal of face coverings.    Students are expected to wear face coverings when they are not actively engaged in athletic activities, including when they are on the bench, sideline or stands of the event or when they are not playing their instrument.

All spectators, officials, coaches, directors and other visitors to the Ohio State School for the Deaf (“OSD”) and/or the Ohio State School for the Blind’s (“OSSB”) campus must wear a face-covering while indoors or on school transportation unless an exemption is requested and approved by the Superintendent.   Face coverings are not required outdoors on OSD/OSSB’s campus or outdoors at OSD/OSSB sponsored events.  

Individuals who refuse to comply with this Face Covering Policy and do not have a valid exemption may be asked to leave campus.

COVID-19 Screening Testing:

OSD and OSSB Students:

All OSD and OSSB students in the above-referenced athletics and extracurricular activities must be enrolled in OSD and OSSB’s COVID-19 Screening Testing Program through Thermo Fisher Scientific and Color[3] in order to be eligible to participate in those athletics or extracurricular activities on OSD or OSSB’s campus.   

In the event any non-residential students are scheduled to stay overnight in the dorms for the purpose of athletics or extracurricular activities, a rapid COVID-19 test will be administered to the student by Student Health Services prior to each non-consecutive overnight stay. The student must have appropriate COVID-19 testing consents on file with Student Health Services prior to any such request. All requests for non-residential student overnight stays in the dorms must be approved a minimum of seven (7) days in advance by the Superintendent or the Director of After School and Student Health Services.

Visitor Athletes, Participants, Coaches, Directors and Officials:

All visitor athletes, participants, coaches, directors and officials must comply with all of OSD and OSSB’s COVID-19 Policies, including but not limited to the Physical Distancing Policy, Face Covering Policy and the Screening and Isolation Policy.   All of the aforementioned parties are required to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to arriving on OSD and OSSB’s campus.

Spectators:

All spectators to athletic or extracurricular events on OSD or OSSB’s campus are subject to all of OSD and OSSB’s COVID-19 Policies, including but not limited to the Physical Distancing Policy[4] , Face Covering Policy and the Screening and Isolation Policy.  Additionally, it is OSD and OSSB’s expectation that all spectators remain seated as much as possible while in any venue on OSD or OSSB’s campus.  Spectators’ access is limited to the venue where the athletic or extracurricular event they are attending is occurring.   Spectators are not permitted in other parts of campus or campus buildings.  Spectators are expected to promptly exit campus buildings and the end of the event.

General Provisions:

All athletic and extracurricular events and travel are ultimately subject to Superintendent approval and are subject to change.