Safe Return to School Plans

Posted Date: 07/30/2021

Greetings USD 257-Iola Families:

We hope you are well and enjoying the summer. We wanted to provide an update and share some information with you about our planning process and considerations for a safe return to school in August.

We are closely watching the current increase in COVID-19 cases as a result of the COVID-19 Delta variant. Because of the Delta variant’s higher transmission rates, we are keeping a close eye on infection rates in the area and spread within our community. Based on what we experienced and learned this past year, we will continue to focus on, monitor, and emphasize the following safety and mitigation efforts and measures:

·        Encouraging students and staff to stay home if they are sick

·        Continuing our collaboration with local and/or county health officials

·        Following health department quarantine guidance and recommendations

·        Using outdoor spaces and places as much as possible for instruction and recess

·        Encouraging frequent hand-washing and using social distancing whenever possible

·        Improving air exchange, filtration, and ventilation when possible

·        Completing frequent cleaning procedures in classrooms and throughout the school

·        Encouraging those who are eligible to be vaccinated to receive both doses

·        Masks are recommended for students and staff (*Action from April 12^th Board Meeting)

As we consider in-person instruction and masking, please know that circumstances may change and, in turn, influence our decision-making and actions throughout the remainder of the summer, the start of school, and throughout the fall and winter. To make these decisions, we will continue to monitor the following:

·        Recommendations and Guidance: Agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) continue to provide schools with updated guidance, including conditions for masking, as the Delta variant spreads. Additionally, we will continue to work closely with our local health department in determining next steps for safe, in-person learning.

·        Local Vaccination Rates and Community Spread: We will continue to monitor community transmission rates or spread and determine if we are experiencing trends within and among specific age groups and/or populations.

We will continue to keep our school families informed and updated as we work to finalize our plans for the 2021-2022 school year. The safety of students, staff, and our community is, and will continue to be, our top priority. Please know that there may be instances during the upcoming school year where unpredicted or unexpected circumstances lead to us needing to make quick decisions. If this occurs, we will communicate with you as quickly as possible.

Thank you,

Mr. Stacey Fager
Superintendent of Schools