Ashland School District
Inspiring Learning for Life
Ashland Schools Optional Masking Update
Ashland School District
En español. Utilice el botón "traducir" en la parte superior derecha.
Accessibility and Translation use button on top right.
Email: Jacqueline.Schad@ashland.k12.or.us
Website: ashland.k12.or.us
Location: 885 Siskiyou Boulevard, Ashland, OR, USA
Phone: (541) 482-2811
Facebook: facebook.com/ashlandpublicschools/
Superintendent Smore Newsletters: https://www.smore.com/
In this newsletter
- Superintendent's Message on Optional Masking
- Talking to Kids About Masking
- New COVID Safety Guidance For Schools
- State Changes to Quarantine and Isolation
- Optional Masking Survey Results
- Who Do I Ask? Q and A and Contacts
- Hungry? A Message to Families in Need
- Vaccine Availability
Superintendent's Message on Optional Masking
Ashland Families, Students and Community Members,
I am excited to share additional developments in COVID mitigation and masking.
On February 28, Governor Brown announced pushed the date for lifting the state-wide indoor masking requirements, including K12 schools, to March 12. School Districts and local health authorities are responsible for local decisions on masking requirements moving forward.
The state’s decision is based on a marked decline in hospitalizations across the state. Current state projections show that the majority of counties, including Jackson County, will move from high-risk status to low-risk status in the coming weeks. The state also cites increased immunity from vaccines and boosters, as well as acquired immunity from having had COVID, as a factor in the decline of case rates and hospitalizations. The CDC provides weekly status assessments for counties here.
On March 12, Ashland Schools will begin a transition to a local metric-based system that will allow masks to be optional during periods of low or moderate risk, and require indoor masks during periods of high risk such as the recent omicron surge. The state recommends adopting a metric system that will follow the local decision making guide provided by the Center for Disease Control. Local metrics will include the county risk level, hospitalizations, local outbreaks and student absences.
For some, this is long overdue. For others, it represents concern for their health or the health of a loved one. The good news for everyone is that the change is based on a significant drop in active cases and hospitalizations in Jackson County, as well as evidence of increased immunity.
- On March 12, OUTDOOR MASKING in Ashland Schools will become optional.
- On March 19, INDOOR MASKING AND MASKING ON BUSES in Ashland Schools will be optional while local risk levels are low or moderate. The additional week allows time for families with students in high-risk categories to plan and time for staff to prepare students and classrooms for the change.
In the case of a surge or where there is high risk of closure due to spread, masking may be required by the District or by Jackson County health.
Ashland Schools will continue additional safety practices recommended under the updated Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance from the Department of Education that came out March 2, 2022. Additionally, we will continue to meet regularly with Jackson County Health and to monitor county, city and school metrics to make local decisions about masking requirements in the event of a future COVID surge.
Important details about the new school safety guidance from Ready Schools Safe Learners are summarized in the newsletter below.
Thank you to the families, staff and students that completed the optional masking survey. Your input supports the decision to make masking optional unless local metrics indicate a significant surge. The input from the survey shows that the majority of families, staff and students respondents would like masking to be optional or support optional masking based on metrics. The survey data is summarized in the newsletter below.
I am grateful to live in a community that values all members and voices. There are many opinions about COVID management and masking. Some of our students have never known school without a mask. Some students have health issues or family members with health issues that put them at greater risk. Some of our families have lost a loved one due to COVID. Equally, some students have been negatively impacted by mask requirements and the inability to see other faces. Many have been impacted by the division we see on the news and in our greater community. All of them need our support, grace and patience.
We cannot know the ‘whys’ of another’s choice with respect to optional masking. We can be respectful and inclusive of each other always. Thank you for supporting this message with your children, our students.
And thank you for making our schools great places to connect and learn. It will be great to see smiles in classrooms again!
Samuel
Samuel Bogdanove
Superintendent
Ashland Public Schools
Pronouns: He, Him, His
Talking to Kids About Optional Masking
“For example, if they have a health issue or [are] more physically vulnerable or have family members who are more vulnerable if they contract the corona virus,” Nicolotti said. “I think there are those groups of kids who might feel more anxious without everybody masking and who feel more protected when there is masking.”
Here are some ways Nicolotti suggests parents talk to their children about mask changes in school:
- Inform your child about the issue
- Ask your child how they feel about the changes
- Discuss why your child may want to continue masking
- Discuss why your child may not want to continue masking
- Emphasize the importance of respecting the opinion of others
“Parents can help their children be aware of other people’s feelings, other people’s ideas, and reasons why other people may choose to mask or not mask and just really instilling your children to be respectful,” Nicolotti said. “You know to encourage their friends, and their peers to be respectful of other children and their choices.”
If you have questions specific to your child, talk to your medical provider or contact our School Nurse Belinda Brown. If your child is struggling with anxiety around this, reach out to your child's teacher or the school's Child Development Specialist.
Additional resource articles:
New COVID Safety Guidance For Schools
What's New:
- Wearing a mask indoors or on buses will be optional as long as our county metrics are in the low or medium risk range (chart below) after March 19th
- Wearing a mask outdoors will be optional in Ashland after March 12th regardless of metrics
What's the Same
- Anyone (students or staff) that tests positive for Covid-19 will be required to isolate at home for a minimum of 5 days from symptom onset or positive test. Clearance to return with instructions on parameters which must be met along with district practices will be provided by nursing staff
- Symptomatic students and staff still cannot be at school
- Unvaccinated and high-risk individuals are encouraged to wear masks when our county is in the medium risk zone (chart below)
- Students and staff will still have the option to wear a mask when our county is at medium or low risk if they choose (chart below)
- Students and staff will wear masks indoors when our county is in the high-risk zone (chart below)
- Increased filtration and ventilation will still be happening in our schools
- Frequent hand washing and sanitizing will still be happening
- Distancing will be encouraged to the extent possible
- Students and staff that are medically eligible are still encouraged to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and keep their vaccination up to date
- Staff and families will still be notified when there has been a positive case in their classes so that people can make informed choices about whether or not to wear a mask
- Anyone exposed to a positive case of Covid-19 should monitor themselves for symptoms and if any symptoms develop, stay home and get tested.
- For anyone exposed to a positive case of Covid-19 it is recommended that they get tested 5 days from exposure even if they are asymptomatic.
- Guidance is subject to change if there is a new spike in Covid-19 cases in the future
State Changes to Quarantine and Isolation
- Students exposed to Covid-19 cases will no longer be required to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status
- Contact tracing is no longer required at schools
- Students and staff who are positive for Covid-19 will still be required to isolate
Optional Masking Survey Results
Last week, we deployed surveys to all Ashland families, school staff and high school students to collect feedback around local requirements for masks both indoors and outdoors. The results are below.
STUDENTS: 237 AHS Students Responded out of 890 (27% response rate)
Indoor Masking Responses
Comfortable with optional masks under any circumstance: 82 students - 34.5%
Comfortable with optional masks if health metrics are used: 59 students - 25%
Not comfortable with optional masks: 96 students - 40.5%
Outdoor Masking Responses
Comfortable with optional masks under any circumstance: 119 students - 50%
Comfortable with optional masks if health metrics are used: 87 students - 37%
Not comfortable with optional masks: 31 students - 13%
FAMILIES: 1375 Families Responded out of approximately 1706 (80.6% response rate)
Note: * Some respondents may be from the same household. Total household count was determined by students with the same home street address.
Indoor Masking Responses
Comfortable with optional masks under any circumstance: 628 families - 46%
Comfortable with optional masks if health metrics are used: 444 families - 32%
Not comfortable with optional masks: 303 families - 22%
Outdoor Masking Responses
Comfortable with optional masks under any circumstance: 998 families- 73%
Comfortable with optional masks if health metrics are used: 335 families- 24%
Not comfortable with optional masks: 42 families- 3%
STAFF: 321 Staff Responded out of 452 (71% response rate)
Indoor Masking Responses
Comfortable with optional masks under any circumstance: 103 staff- 32%
Comfortable with optional masks if health metrics are used: 109 staff- 34%
Not comfortable with optional masks: 109 staff- 34%
Outdoor Masking Responses
Comfortable with optional masks under any circumstance: 189 staff- 60%
Comfortable with optional masks if health metrics are used: 120 staff- 37%
Not comfortable with optional masks: 12 staff- 4%
Who Do I Ask? Q and A and Contacts
Have questions about making choices around masking for your child? Contact your medical provider or our School Nurse, Belinda Brown at belinda.brown@ashland.k12.or.us
Have questions about school policy regarding Covid-19? Contact our Director of Programs, Christine McCollom at christine.mccollom@ashland.k12.or.us
Have questions about anxiety your student may be experiencing around the changes? Contact your school's Child Development Specialist or Mental and Behavioral Health Specialist
Bellview: Michelle Bolinger
Helman: Kat Smith
Walker: Brooke Johnson-Thygeson
John Muir Outdoor School: Amber Langer
Willow Wind: Debra Schaeffer-Pew
AMS: Allison Haas
AHS: Kimberly Wasserman
Hungry? Message from Ashland Food Bank to All Families in Need
The Ashland Emergency Food Bank, located at 560 Clover Lane is ready to serve you for free regarding any supplemental nutrition needs you may have.
We take pride in offering a vast pantry with a plethora of nutritional options as well as shelf-stable necessities for anyone in your family. Additionally, we also supply fresh organic produce from local farmers daily in our generously packed food boxes, which families can get up to twice a month.
Stop by Monday through Friday 9:30 am -12:30 pm whenever you need or call or email at us on our website at https://ashlandefb.org/
Vaccine Availability
Vaccinations against Covid-19 are available for all beginning at age 5. Boosters are recommended for everyone aged 12 and up. To be considered up to date on your vaccination, you must have received a full series of Covid-19 vaccine (two doses of Pfizer or Moderna, one dose of Johnson and Johnson). If you are 18 or older, you will need a booster to be considered "up to date". If it has been five months since your Pfizer or Moderna series, you need a booster. If you got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you need a booster after 2 months. Being up to date on this vaccination will impact the length of quarantine or isolation should you become exposed.
There is an online vaccination locator here: https://getvaccinated.oregon.gov/#/locator?lang=en if you would like to set up an appointment on-line. Most places are scheduling a few weeks out.
Walmart and Costco are places you can get an appointment quickly:
https://www.walmart.com/cp/flu-shots-immunizations/1228302
https://www.costco.com/covid-vaccine.html?&reloaded=true
There is a drive-through option at the Merrick, 200 Riverside Dr. in Medford that has all three types of boosters available, AS WELL AS THE CHILD VACCINE FOR AGES 5-11! Details below
Location: The Merrick 200 Riverside Dr. Medford- This is an outdoor situation, wear layers!
Hours of Operation:
- Sunday - 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Monday-Saturday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
COVID-19 Vaccines Provided: All COVID-19 vaccines for ages 5 and older. Moderna, Pfizer, J&J, Pediatric Pfizer
SAFETY LAYERS – KEEPING KIDS HEALTHY
Throughout the pandemic, the Ashland School District has taken student and staff health and safety very seriously. We have used some of the most cautious precautions in the region and have had fewer cases and more time in school as a result. We post our student and staff cases and exposures, as well as our safety protocols on our website here: https://www.ashland.k12.or.us/page/coronavirus-covid-19-response
The safety layers we have in place during the school day are:
- All staff that work with students have completed the first series of vaccinations
- Encouraging all eligible students to get vaccinated, including hosting vaccination clinics
- 3 foot distancing is maintained whenever possible
- Frequent hand washing and sanitizing
- Increased filtration measures in classroom spaces
- Students and staff have the option to participate in free weekly asymptomatic testing programs
- Rapid testing for students and staff who become symptomatic while at school
- No student or staff experiencing symptoms may remain at school