Mask mitigation guidance

Mask Mitigation Guidance

Dear CRCSD Families,

As we have responded to the pandemic and worked on mitigation measures, we realize that guidance and proactive measures are helpful so that everyone can see the big picture of managing this time together. We have developed guidance to assist us in determining when we can remove our most recent mitigation measures with face-coverings/masks.

Local and Federal Public Health entities support that schools should monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening testing, and occurrence of outbreaks to guide decisions on the level of layered prevention strategies. Linn County and CRCSD COVID-19 data is reviewed each Thursday afternoon.

The following metrics will be considered in determining when mask requirements for students and staff can safely end:

Upon notification of a change/cancellation of the temporary injunction to Iowa Law that restricts enforcement of masking, CRCSD will no longer require masks be worn by students and staff during the compulsory school day.
Linn County 7 day positivity rate below 14%
Linn County transmission level, as defined by IDPH, below “epidemic level” (currently epidemic level)
CRCSD COVID-19 positivity rate below 2%
Linn County 0-17 age group reported cases below 10%
*Potential Future Determining Factor: Vaccination Status:

a. Students age 12 and over have access to vaccinations

b. Secondary Schools: If our district gains the access to the data to determine a school has better than 50% immunization rate, then we could use that as a determining factor

c. Elementary Schools: When the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to students and we have access to the data to determine a school has better than 50% immunization rate, that could be a determining factor

Updated Linn County Public Health data can be found here.

Upon notification of a change/cancellation of the temporary injunction to Iowa Law that restricts enforcement of masking, CRCSD will follow the law.

After the district mask requirement ends, school site specific temporary masking requirements will be considered for students and staff when/if the following occur:

● ≥2% of students are actively COVID-19 positive at an individual school at the time of weekly data collection

AND

● The 5-school-day average daily attendance for illness is ≥8%.

Any school site temporary mask mandate under these circumstances shall last for 10 school days and be extended only if the temporary masking metrics are not met after that 10 days. Any temporary mask mandates for localized outbreaks will be in place for students during hours of compulsory attendance (school day, including pick-up/drop/off and after/before hour PK childcare/wraparound) while indoors, unless additional restrictions are needed or externally ordered.

Vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noreen Bush

Superintendent

Updated Information Every Friday

Are you aware that we publish COVID-19 positive cases for students and staff each week? Every Friday at 10:00 a.m. the numbers are posted on our website dashboard. We’ve placed an easy-reference button on our homepage to directly guide you to the site. The information is part of our Health Services content and resources.

Metro Care Connection

Providing primary care health services in a nurturing school environment

Are you aware that your student can receive some primary care health services within a CRCSD school environment? Metro Care Connection School Based Health Centers provide expanded school health services to CRCSD students. The centers are located at three of our district high schools, but all district students PK-12 can take advantage of the services.

Important Reminders

Friday, Sept. 24: 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Kennedy High School Homecoming Dance

Friday, Sept. 24: 7 to 9 p.m.

Jefferson High School Homecoming Football Game

Saturday, Sept. 25: 7 to 10 p.m.

Jefferson High School Homecoming Dance

Monday, Sept. 27: 5:30 p.m.

Board of Education meeting

Wednesday, Sept. 29: 6:00 p.m.

Washington High School Homecoming Parade

Monday, October 4: No School for Students

Staff Learning Day

CRCSD Happenings

CRCSD Awarded on the

Forbes Best-In-State Employers List

For the second year in a row

Cedar Rapids Community School District has been awarded on the Forbes list of Best-In-State Employers 2021.

“We are thrilled to be awarded for the second year in a row,” said Superintendent Noreen Bush. “To be included in the list of several prestigious companies and organizations across the state, is truly an honor and a great reflection on our Cedar Rapids Community School District employees and community members who spoke highly of our school district.”

Family Survey Coming Next Week

Our district values feedback! Families will soon receive a survey to tell us about their experience with the Cedar Rapids Community School District. To ensure we continue to provide high quality, rigorous learning experiences that meet the needs of our learners and prepare them for college and career, we need our families’ feedback.

English Language Learners (ELL)

Work Toward Proficiency Levels

Providing Assessment can allow ELL students to celebrate their accomplishments

CRCSD welcomes over 1,100 English Language Learners (ELL) to the district and integrates them into their grade-level classrooms, while they also are learning the English language. ELL students make up 7% of all CRCSD students, and the number continues to grow.

Focus on Social-Emotional Learning

Building CRCSD’s social-emotional learning skills is an important goal for our school this year. Between September 27 and October 8, students and teachers will participate in several exercises to better understand these concepts and to reflect on how they perceive these skills in themselves.

We will be asking for CRCSD students to reflect on their own mindsets and approaches to learning via an online survey. The survey will take about 20-30 minutes to complete.