Cougar Connection
An Update from your Mankato East Administration Team
January 12, 2022
COVID 19- Surge
Dear Students and Families
As you are all aware, we are experiencing a significant surge of COVID-19 cases in our community. In the past two school days alone, our nursing staff has received positive COVID results for a number of students and staff. On Monday we shared a general notification letter for the entire school building because we anticipate that movement among students and staff has led to potential exposure for anyone in our building.
Given this surge, our district Facilities Director has set a masking mandate for East High School to begin on Thursday, January 13, 2021, and last for a minimum period of 2 weeks. At the end of 2 weeks, health services and district leaders will review our case numbers and make recommendations for moving forward.
Formal Masking Notification
The following is a message from our Director of Facilities, Scott Hogan, regarding the mask mandate:
This week positive COVID-19 cases are rapidly rising at East High School and we are planning additional mitigation strategies to slow down the spread of the virus at the school.
Starting Thursday, January 13 masks will be required for all students, staff, and visitors. This mask requirement will be in place for a minimum of two weeks. At the end of the two-week period, we will review classroom and building-wide data to determine the next steps.
In addition to the masking mitigation, the school district has increased cleaning and disinfecting of high touch surfaces throughout the facility. We also encourage staff and families to consider mitigation strategies you can implement that will help keep students in school:
Get fully vaccinated. A listing of nearby vaccine sites is available at www.vaccines.gov/search/.
If you qualify for a booster, age 12 and older, 5 months from your primary series of COVID-19 vaccine.
Take advantage of the free COVID-19 testing provided in the school district each Monday, or test at the community site located at the National Guard Armory in Mankato (100 Martin Luther King Jr Dr).
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Details
During the mask mandate, students, staff, and any visitors will be required to wear masks in our building. Any student who refuses to wear a mask during this mandate will be sent home as if they are ill. We will work to ensure that all students have a properly fitting mask, if a student arrives without a mask, one will be provided to them. At any point during the masking mandate, if a parent or student has a significant concern about masking, we ask that you contact your grade level assistant principal so we can work out an alternate plan for you. We can not allow students to be present in our building without a mask during this time.
East Administration Team