Girard USD 248

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District Update

USD 248 District Update:

USD 248 District Update:
10/1/2021
Blaise Bauer – Supt. USD 248

Mask Wearing Optional in USD 248 beginning Monday, October 4th

USD 248 is currently meeting all four categories of the mask optional “Gating Criteria” (see below) and it has been recommended by the Crawford County Health Department that all students can move to a mask optional status on Monday, October 4, 2021. In accordance with our “Return to School” policy that was approved at the July Board of Education meeting, we will follow the recommendation of the CCHD and make mask wearing optional for all people inside our school facilities. Individuals/families who choose to continue to wear masks, even during a possible mask optional phase, are encouraged to do so. However, please note that due to an Executive Order, all students will continue be required to wear a mask while riding on any school transportation such as school buses. Lastly, please review the entire “Mask Optional Gating Criteria” information that was emailed to all parents. It can also be viewed on our district’s social media sites.

MASK OPTIONAL GATING CRITERIA:

USD 248 District Update:
10/1/2021
Blaise Bauer – Supt. USD 248

USD 248 MASK OPTIONAL CRITERIA/METRICS

At the USD 248 Board of Education meeting on July 8, 2021, the Board approved the “Return to School Plan” for the 2021-2022 school year. In this document, it was determined that the USD 248 School District would follow the Crawford County Health Department’s recommendations regarding health protocols that might be implemented in the school buildings, especially the wearing of face coverings by all students and staff. As the Crawford County Health Department adjusts their recommendations, USD 248 will follow suit.

On, Monday, October 4, 2021, the Crawford County Health Department will recommend masking “gating” criteria to make masking recommendations for schools. If the following four criteria are met, students may have the opportunity to move to a mask optional educational environment. These criteria will be applied to each building individually. It is possible as we move forward, that some buildings may be in a mask optional environment while another building may be in a mask required environment.

MASK OPTIONAL GATING CRITERIA:

The benchmarks used are from the Navigating Change document from the Kansas Department of Education, which is the gating criteria format currently used in community communications. These criteria have been vetted by KDHE and are recommended by the Crawford County Health Department. The primary sections of the gating criteria for benchmarking will be:

40 cases or fewer by week in the County.
Trend in the County incidence rate that is stable or decreasing over a 2-week period.
Local / referring hospital capacity that is 20% or greater.
Student/Staff absenteeism due to COVID-19 based on number enrolled plus staff level in each building. This criterion can be used at a district and/or building level.

Crawford County Health Department officials and district administration will meet regularly to discuss current data that is used to determine if the mask-optional opportunity is available for your child’s

educational building. Following these meetings, communication of any mask status change will be sent directly to parents and staff through email and will also be shared on the school district's social media sites. It is important to understand that your child’s mask optional opportunity may change due to absenteeism rates within your child’s building or due to county incidence rates. If the determination is made that masks will be required in the building, the building administrator will send out a notification to parents.

MASK WEARING IS STILL REQUIRED ON ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

Students and staff are still required by Federal Order to wear a mask on public transportation, which includes all district transportation. Your child will still be required to wear a mask on a school bus, in a school van, or any other form of school transportation. This includes extracurricular activities, field trips, etc.

QUARANTINE GUIDELINES FOR MASK VS. NO MASK:

If students choose to not wear a mask within a mask optional environment, they will be under stricter quarantine guidelines in the event that it is determined that they were a close contact to a COVID positive individual. Specifically, a student wearing a mask who is in close contact with a COVID positive individual may not need to quarantine. However, a student not wearing a mask who is in close contact with a COVID positive individual will be required to quarantine for 10 days.

Individuals/families that choose to continue to wear masks even during a possible mask optional phase are encouraged to do so.

8/20/2021

Blaise Bauer – Supt. USD 248

COVID-19 Incident Updates

Dear USD 248 Families and Patrons,

Since the start of the current 2021-2022 school year, we have experienced some COVID-19 positive cases in our school district.

In an attempt to keep you up to date with student and staff COVID incidents in our school facilities, we will be posting a COVID Incident Chart on our district’s website and social media sites. This data will reflect the incidents as of July 1, 2021 and will not include the previous school year’s data. This information may change rapidly. We will do the best that we can to keep the information current. When we post the COVID updates, you will see a breakdown by building and district. The “Overall District Total” will include those individual who may have already been released to return to school. The “Current District Total” will include those individuals who are currently “positive” for COVID and those individuals who are in quarantine due to interactions with “positive” individuals that may have occurred in the school buildings our outside of the school buildings (home/community). We are in daily contact with the Crawford County Health Department and will take all necessary steps to protect the health of our students and staff.

We have been in contact with all parents of students who have been quarantined and/or tested positive. We will continually monitor the situation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Blaise Bauer, Superintendent

USD 248 Girard Public Schools

District Update 8/3/2021