NWCSD Superintendent's Update

March 4, 2022

Dear D21 Families,

OHA announced earlier this week that the state will be lifting the masking requirements in both indoor public places and Oregon’s schools, effective March 12. This latest update will shift masking requirements to local decision making on face covering requirements in both schools and buses.

OHA and ODE have worked collaboratively to develop practical updates to safety protocols to help ensure that we continue to keep our students and staff safe and healthy. These updates can be found in the latest Resiliency Framework, and include reteaching layered mitigation protocols and prioritizing care and connection to support the mental, emotional and social health and well-being of students, families, and staff.

NWCSD Upcoming Changes (effective Monday, March 14th, 2022)

Masks Optional: Over the past week, our district has gathered valuable input from our staff, our families and our local health authority, to help determine the best course of action moving forward for our schools. After careful consideration, North Wasco County School District will be moving to make masks optional for students and staff in our school buildings and district properties on March 14th, 2022, the first school day following the updated state guidance. Masks will also be optional on our school buses.

Contact Tracing/Quarantine: Oregon will pause contact tracing and quarantine for the general population, including K-12 settings. Covid-19 has evolved to become one of the most transmissible viruses known, and by the time exposure is identified and contact tracing is performed, transmission has often already occurred.

Isolation: Students and/or staff who test positive for COVID-19 will still be required to isolate for at least five days. The isolation period may end after 5 full days so long as the individual is fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved. It is highly recommended individuals wear a well fitted mask around others at home and in public for 5 additional days after the end of the 5-day isolation period.

COVID-19 Dashboard: We will continue to update our families regarding case counts within our schools via our district Covid Dashboard and weekly school letter.

COVID-19 Diagnostic Testing: NWCSD is registered and our school nurses are able to perform COVID-19 testing on site for students (14 years or younger) of families who have a signed consent form on file with the school. The District will also have at-home test kits available (depending on supply and demand) to those who prefer to test their own child at home.

Mitigation Measures: In addition to the above, NWCSD will continue to evaluate and revamp our other layered mitigation strategies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. These measures include increased airflow and circulation, environmental cleaning and disinfection (especially of all high touch surfaces), and frequent hand hygiene/washing.

Symptom Monitoring: As with any illness, if your child has COVID-19 symptoms (cough, temperature of 100.4 or higher, chills, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, new loss of taste or smell), we ask that you please do not send them to school and seek testing.

Our communities will be living with this virus for the indefinite future. Over time, our knowledge of mitigation measures has grown, for these reasons the guidance for responding to the ever changing landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic also changes. It’s very possible that a new variant could develop that shifts and moves communities back into a high risk rate of transmission, which will undoubtedly bring upon more changes to how we continue to operate schools and keep them open for in-person learning.

While we understand that many individuals are looking forward to removing their masks, please know that there will still be students and staff who choose to wear a mask. NWCSD is working diligently to ensure our school environments are safe and welcoming to every student and staff member and honors their individual decisions around COVID-19 safety.

We ask for everyone to center grace, kindness, and respect with one another as we move into this next phase of the school year and look forward to the support of our families and greater community in these efforts.

Sincerely,

Dr. Bernal

Superintendent