Dear Dragon Community,

While our school year has been a difficult challenge under pandemic circumstances, we are proud of the team effort from faculty, staff, students, and parents alike to re-open our schools.

This update is to share with you our plans as we prepare to move forward with the finish of the current school year and prepare for 2021-2022. We look forward to the return of our Dragons for on-site learning.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me or our team of school nurses and administrators.

Sincerely,

Dr. Debbie Atwell

Superintendent

Masks are no longer be required to be worn by students, staff, or visitors. All other directives of the Arkansas Department of Health continue to be in effect until such time they are lifted by the Department of Health.

We will continue to practice safety and sanitation practices, such as contact tracing, spraying and disinfecting facilities, providing hand sanitizer throughout the schools, encouraging hand washing, emphasizing social distancing, health screenings, and all other Health Department directives.

The CDC continues to recommend that everyone wear a mask whenever social distancing cannot be assured. We support this recommendation. Although masks will no longer be required, we encourage everyone to consider wearing a mask whenever in close contact with other people.

Please note that CDC guidance when identifying close contacts has been modified - if both parties are properly wearing masks - the person diagnosed and the person exposed - the person exposed does NOT have to quarantine.

While attendance is important, please do not come to school or work if you are sick, and contact Nurse Amy Allen if you have symptoms or have been exposed.

Coleman Pharmacy has contacted us to determine interest in Pfizer vaccinations for students 16 years and older. A survey link was sent to parents of students in grades 10-12 and listed below. Parent permission slips and forms would be required before vaccinations can be given.

Respond here if you have a student 16+ so we can determine the level of interest.

https://forms.gle/r6LAtk5KjNgQJNv47

Mountainburg Schools will offer on-site instruction for the 2021-2022 school year. Students are working with counselors and principals now on course selection.

We recognize there is a loss of learning from the spring school closures, and disruptions this school year. Tutoring and credit recovery options are currently being offered, as well as this summer. Please contact your student's principal or counselor for more information if your student has failed or not completed courses from the fall or spring semesters.

We are preparing additional literacy and math support, and credit recovery for the 2121-2022 school year as well.

We are grateful for the federal funds made available to assist in our response to covid. While the guidance is emerging, we are working to determine needs and develop action plans to use funds to provide direct student support, technology, address the loss of learning, ensure safe and sanitized facilities and transportation, air quality, provide quality instructional materials, curriculum, and professional development. Use of ESSR funds must be covid related, necessary, reasonable, and allowable.

We appreciate input from our community, parents, and supporters as we move forward. Please feel free to submit your reflections, needs, and suggestions for public comment through the form link below. If you have personal or confidential concerns please address them with your student's school counselor or principal.

• Honor our History through Values and Traditions
• Build our present through Teamwork and Collaboration
• Create our future through Creativity and Innovation

Dr. Debbie Atwell is serving her third year as superintendent. She and husband Roger are MHS graduates, life long residents of the community, and are owned by dogs Woodrow & Sadie.

Email: debbie.atwell@mountainburg.org
Website: www.mountainburg.org
Location: 129 Hwy 71 SW, Mountainburg
Phone: 479-369-2121