Dear Families and Guardians,
Our CRCSD safety and health mitigation team met to thoughtfully strategize the next steps for our school district’s COVID-19 mitigation efforts. As we have experienced over the past eighteen months, when we receive data and new information, we respond as quickly as possible to serve our students, families and staff.
Even though over 75% of our employees are vaccinated and our student population over age 12 has access to vaccinations, our elementary school age children do not yet have the opportunity to be vaccinated. Additionally, recent escalation in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as well as the number of cases being reported to our school district from Linn County Public Health (LCPH) during the first week of school, requires us to shift our mitigation efforts.
The following shifts will occur 9/2/21 until further notice:
CONTACT TRACING
Current State: When LCPH communicates a positive case to CRCSD, the school notifies all families in the school that there is a positive case.
SHIFTS effective 9/2/21 until further notice:
When LCPH or parent/guardian/staff member communicates a positive case to CRCSD, the school nurses will assist LCPH with targeted contact tracing at the grade levels in the following manner:
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ELEMENTARY: Shift from whole school communication to targeted classroom communication when there is a staff or student positive case.
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SECONDARY: Shift to a whole school communication that segments positive cases by grade level. If students are in a self-contained classroom setting, targeted classroom communication will take place when there is a staff or student positive case.
QUARANTINE/ISOLATION
In alignment with Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidance, families can choose to quarantine their students for 14 days to monitor for symptoms when they receive the positive case information.
CRCSD requires students or staff members with COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test isolate for 10 days.
ADDITIONAL MITIGATION EFFORTS
Current State: As stated in
communication prior to the school year, CRCSD strongly recommends mask wearing as a mitigation measure. Due to House File 847, we cannot mandate mask wearing except on our school buses. We are asking our families and staff members to please consider the current situation in rising positive COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in our county and are recommending the following continued measures:
- Please consider wearing a mask, even if you are vaccinated
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water
- Use hand sanitizer when hand washing is not accessible
- Socially distance as much as possible
SHIFTS effective 9/2/21 until further notice:
- No all school assemblies (assemblies by grade level may occur)
- All preschool home visits will be virtual or outdoor meetings - not inside families’ homes
- No volunteers or parent visitors will be allowed at elementary schools. We will return to the same practice as the 2020-21 school year in contacting schools for student pick up, drop off, or other needs
As always, we appreciate your support during these challenging times. The safety of our students and staff, while providing a quality education, is our priority.
Noreen Bush
Superintendent
