Superintendent's Update
11/21/2020
Dear CSD Parents and Guardians:
New PA Department of Health Orders
While we have not been free of the impact of COVID-19, our school district, the community's level of incidences over the last few weeks has largely not occurred in schools due to our collective efforts. So, a HUGE THANK YOU and our students for your efforts to practice our health precautions such as COVID5. To keep it that way, we must not succumb to what is being called COVID fatigue.
We are transitioning from the hybrid instructional model based upon the indicators/metrics previously presented to the school board and community. Those are the same indicators/metrics we used to move from the full-virtual instructional model to the hybrid instructional model. To be consistent, transparent, and objective, we believe it is important to follow the indicators/metrics as presented until updated or changed.
I am sure that many of you are aware of the four new mitigation efforts which Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, announced on Tuesday, November 17. The efforts include: Protecting Our Health Care Systems, Traveler Testing, a Strengthened Masking Order, and recommendations for Colleges and Universities. Each order is hyperlinked if you would like to read them in their entirety. Specifically, I wanted to bring your attention to the masking and travel orders.
I do believe overall, we have done a great job with masking/face-coverings; however, please be mindful that the updated order now mandates the following:
- Masks must be worn indoors and outdoors if you are away from your home. The order includes all school buildings.
- Masks must be worn outdoors if you cannot remain at least six feet away from someone not in your household the entire time you are outdoors.
- Masks are required indoors, even if you are more than six feet apart from members not in your household.
- Per this order and previous orders, "Alternative to a face-covering*" may include a plastic face shield that covers the nose and mouth, extends below the chin and to the ears, and leaves no exposed gap between the forehead and the shield's headpiece. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised there is currently insufficient evidence to determine how much protection a face shield provides to individuals around the person wearing the face shield because of gaps where respiratory droplets may escape. However, the CDC does state that face shields may still be an option in situations where wearing a cloth face covering is not otherwise feasible.
The travel order**, especially at this time of year, is more complex. It states that "Pennsylvanians visiting other states must have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before their return, or else they need to quarantine for 14 days." These guidelines present a challenge during the holidays when we desperately want to visit with friends and family. However, the Department of Health is hoping that by staying home and limiting the number of people with whom we interact, we will help to curb the spread of COVID-19.
We encourage everyone's cautiousness and ask that you avoid social gatherings in addition to trying to stay in the state. If you do host or attend a holiday gathering, please wear a mask/face covering when indoors and keep a distance from people not in your household. Similarly, if you do travel, follow the guidelines to return; however, in the absence of a test, unless otherwise authorized by one of our health services staff, your son/daughter will be required to adhere to the 14-day quarantine.
CSD has made significant progress as one school district with six schools, collaborating to support each other during these challenging times and worked too hard to let our guard down now. 2020 will remain a year of historical significance, and as a result, let us accept the extraordinary circumstances that it has presented and change our planning accordingly.
Please adhere to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health orders and limit your interactions over the break. We are better collectively in our efforts and need to support each other. I will urge our faculty and staff to take similar precautions in a separate communication.
Sincerely,
Dana T. Bedden, Ed.D., CAA
CSD Current Model of COVID-19 Mitigation in Schools
Reminder: COVID-5
Dr. Dana T. Bedden, CAA
Website: https://www.centennialsd.org/
Location: 48 Swan Way, Warminster, PA, USA
Phone: 215-441-6000
Twitter: @Dr_Bedden