Superintendent's Letter

Dear Students, Staff, Families, and Community Members,

I hope that you are enjoying your summer. We are six weeks away from the start of the school year. Below are a few mid-summer updates as we get ready for the fall.

SAU #88 Three Year Strategic Plan Survey

Thank you to those of you who participated in the SAU #88 Strategic Plan Survey in June. We are in the process of reviewing the data and a summary of the survey will be provided this fall. You can also expect that there will be a public forum on our three year plan prior to it being finalized by the School Board as your input is important.

SAU #88 Equity Audit

We will be working with the Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium (MAEC) in late October/November. The equity audit will provide information about ways to develop a more concrete understanding of what it means to practice equity through school policies, procedures, and practices. As part of the audit, there will be surveys for students (3rd-12th grade), staff members, and families as well as group conversations coordinated by MAEC.

NH Division of Public Health Services (DPHS) Back-to-School Information

As we get ready for the fall, we are still monitoring the latest developments related to Covid-19 and guidance from NH state officials and CDC. As we plan for the fall, the health and safety of our students, staff, families and community members remains a priority.

DPHS recently held a conference call to discuss back-to-school guidance for schools and childcare centers. The following information is a summary of the call. Another meeting will be held on August 11th with updated information. I will issue a summary of the guidance that will be in place for the fall after the August 11th meeting.

As we have learned over the past year, the spread of Covid can change quickly and we need to be prepared to change course depending upon how prevalent Covid is in our community.

Thankfully, Lebanon has achieved one of the highest levels of vaccination against COVID-19 in the State, which will help to keep our community protected. NH DPHS has made town-level vaccination data now available on their data dashboard for people to see (https://www.covid19.nh.gov/dashboard/vaccination). That data is showing that 73.5% of residents in Lebanon are fully vaccinated, and 79% of residents have received at least 1 dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Additionally, 63% of 12-19 year olds in Lebanon are fully vaccinated.

Summary of Back to School Information:

• DPHS is not going to provide specific state-wide, universal guidance to schools. Each community/district should continue to look at the level of COVID-19 in their community (as measured by the 14-day rate of new COVID cases and the 7-day average test positivity trends) and vaccination rates where they live and make a determination regarding mitigation measures based on local data.

• Schools should continue to work with community health organizations to promote vaccinations. For individuals 12 and older who have not been vaccinated, please use this link to access information about COVID vaccines and vaccination locations.

• There is the possibility of a vaccine for younger children that could be available late fall/early winter.

• Each school district will determine if masks will be required or recommended for staff and students. NH DPHS has advised that when the level of COVID-19 in the community is low, the risk to the schools is low, so face masks could be made optional, even indoors. However, as levels of COVID-19 in the community increase to higher levels, then face masks should be strongly recommended at a minimum, if not required. The decision on requiring face masks or simply recommending them, however, is left to local decision making (Therefore, please note: Face masks may be required in schools based on conversations with DPHS and review of local COVID-related data).

• Masks are not needed outside.

• Masks need to be worn on all public transportation including all passengers on school buses because of a federal CDC Order requiring people to wear face masks while on public transportation.

• It is important to continue to maintain physical distancing indoors and to maximize physical distancing to the extent possible in each school building and classroom.

• Schools should continue appropriate ventilation procedures-open windows when possible etc.

• Schools should continue to encourage the practice of washing of hands, sanitizing hands, and using good etiquette when a person coughs or sneezes.

• It is important for staff and students to stay home if they have any new symptoms suggestive of a viral infection. This means that coming to school when a person is not feeling well, or might have symptoms even of a common cold is still not acceptable – such symptoms can include any of the currently listed symptoms of COVID-19.

• If new viral symptoms are present, testing for COVID continues to be recommended for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, and testing remains widely available in the community through both health care providers and multiple other avenues (see current list of testing locations).

• If a person tests positive for COVID, that person will be asked to isolate. Members of the household and close contacts in the household (including if there was a children's sleepover) will be asked to quarantine.

• Close contacts in school whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated will not be required to quarantine, but they will be asked to monitor their symptoms and can continue to go to school if they do not have viral symptoms (see NH DPHS guidance for people who have been exposed to COVID-19).

• For schools, the 'three feet or less for 10 minutes or more' guidance for determining who needs to quarantine is no longer in effect. Therefore, unlike last year, if a staff member or student tests positive, the entire class, no matter the grade, will not be asked to quarantine. Staff and students in the class will be asked to monitor viral symptoms and self-observe.

• School administrators should continue to inform the parents/community of positive cases in schools so there is knowledge and awareness of potential COVID exposures.

• Regular cleaning of our schools during the day should continue. Disinfection is recommended when there is a positive case in a classroom.

• Water fountains can be used, but students are encouraged to continue to bring their own water bottles.

• Active daily screening of symptoms conducted by the school is not recommended for this fall, but parents/guardians are asked to self-identify if their child is having symptoms consistent with a viral infection or COVID-19 and to not send their child to school, but rather seek testing for COVID-19 in the community. If a student comes to school and viral symptoms are noted, the student will go to the nurse and the parents will be asked to pick the child up and to contact their local health provider.

• Schools should continue to provide meals/snacks with physical distancing to the greatest extent possible.

• Barriers are not a priority; they are not seen as necessary or important as originally thought.

• Lockers and locker rooms can be used.

• Schools are not seen as high-risk indoor locations for the transmission of Covid, especially when levels of COVID-19 in the community are low, and schools take steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• School administrators/nurses will still contact DPHS if there is a positive case in school and work with DPHS to determine if any further action steps are needed.

Note: This information may change based on COVID transmission rates and directives from DPHS and NH state officials. I will send another update after the August 11th DPHS meeting, which will include the guidance we will be following in Lebanon for the fall.

In Closing

The COVID pandemic continues to have an immense impact on all of our lives. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support last year and as we plan for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. We are greatly looking forward to opening our doors and having all of our staff and students back in school this fall!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dr. Joanne Roberts

The Lebanon School District, in partnership with the community, is committed to providing a challenging, positive and safe learning environment that CARES:

• Cultivates curiosity and collaboration
• Achieves academic excellence
• Respects and values diversity
• Encourages responsible citizenship
• Supports the needs of every learner

Upcoming School Board Meeting:

Lebanon School Board Meeting Wednesday, August 25, 2021 6:30 pm LMS Cafeteria

Please visit the SAU #88 website for further information.

Link to Board Agendas and Minutes

Website: www.sau88.net
Location: 20 Seminary Hill Road, West Lebanon, NH, USA
Phone: 603-795-8500