A MESSAGE FROM Oregon Department of Education
Salem, Or-As our schools plan for the fall 2021 in-person school year, it is important to remember our communities will be living with the virus until there is widespread immunity. COVID-19 continues to change with new variants, our knowledge of mitigation efforts grows over time.
Right now, the best tools to protect ourselves and one another are vaccination for those eligible, physical distancing, face coverings, ventilation and airflow, hand hygiene, and staying home if you feel sick or you know you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
The transition back to school may prompt a range of emotions for you and/or your child – from anxiety and uncertainty to excitement and opportunity. We want you to know it is a priority to create safe spaces where your child feels safe, cared for, and connected to the learning environment. Working together, we can harness this opportunity to rekindle joy and learning in the classrooms, auditoriums, and playgrounds.
You can find more information on the 4J website Here.
Health & Safety Protocols
Key measures that will be required include: Maintaining a communicable disease plan, maintaining an isolation space in schools and submitting a plan for operation.
Vaccination: Our schools bring together people who are fully vaccinated and people who are not fully vaccinated. Everyone age 12 and older is eligible for a vaccine. Vaccination of 12-14 year olds requires parental or guardian consent. Vaccination of students and staff is [insert local details (ie. not required / optional / encouraged)] and not required to come to school. Vaccination supports a student’s access to in-person learning, sports and extracurricular activities. Fully vaccinated individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 are not required to quarantine unless they develop symptoms which ensures continuity of in-person instruction. When as many eligible students and staff are vaccinated as possible, our school is better able to serve students and families without interruption.
Handwashing: Hand washing will be taught and encouraged. Students and staff will have access to soap and water and hand sanitizer. [Insert local details]
Responding to COVID-19 Cases or Outbreaks
We want you to know it is a priority for our school district to create a learning environment where your child feels safe, cared for, and connected to peers and school staff.
When staff and students show symptoms of being ill: if the student or staff member feels ill prior to coming to school, they should stay home. If a student or staff member becomes ill at school, we will have a designated location to separate people who have symptoms of COVID-19 from people who are not sick. [Insert local details]
When a staff member or a student tests positive for COVID-19: our school district will work with our local public health authority to take next steps. This will include communicating to our school community and contacting those who may have been exposed. [Insert local details]
CDC guidance states that people who are fully vaccinated and do not have COVID-19 symptoms do not need to quarantine or get tested after an exposure to someone with COVID-19.
Explore Data on Race and Ethnicity and COVID-19 Here
