Dear Union School District Community,

It is hard to believe we are in week seven of this extraordinary school year. Our students, staff members and families have truly made the first quarter of the school year memorable and fun. I would like to provide an update regarding health and safety measures with respect to modified quarantine and mask requirements as the safety of our students and staff members on campus remains a top priority.

Since the beginning of the school year, USD has employed multiple layers of protection and mitigation strategies to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 based on the CA Department of Public Health (CDPH). USD has successfully implemented the modified quarantine guidance from the CDPH allowing us to maximize the amount of in-person instruction for our eligible students who are identified as close contacts to a positive COVID case. Our mitigation strategies from day one have allowed families to choose whether to have their child remain on campus as applicable under all modified quarantine eligibility requirements. I want to thank all our staff, students and families for the continued partnership in this process; it is truly a collaborative effort between our schools and families.

Our current indoor/outdoor mask requirement aligns with the CDPH guidelines that were updated on September 1st. The CDPH updated the definition of who is eligible for a modified quarantine in schools that now includes language for both indoor and outdoor school settings. To ensure students are eligible for the CDPH modified quarantine requirements and following consultation with the Board of Trustees, USD will continue with both indoor and outdoor mask requirements for students and staff.

The updated quarantine protocols allow students to stay in school while participating in modified quarantine when they are a “close contact” with a COVID positive individual only if they were masked.

The modified quarantine guidance from the CDPH is listed below:

When both parties wear a mask in any school setting in which students are supervised by school staff (including indoor or outdoor school settings), unvaccinated students who are close contacts (more than 15 minutes over a 24-hour period within 0-6 feet) may undergo a modified quarantine as follows. They may continue to attend school for in-person instruction if they:

• Are asymptomatic;
• Continue to appropriately mask, as required;
• Undergo at least twice weekly testing during quarantine; and
• Continue to quarantine for all extracurricular activities at school, including sports, and activities within the community setting.

In order to continue providing the CDPH modified quarantine option, students and staff members will continue to be required to wear a mask indoors and outdoors while on campus (except when eating or drinking, engaging in vigorous physical exercise, or when taking a mask break outdoors distanced at least 6 feet from other individuals). Should the CDPH release updated guidance regarding mask wearing in indoor/outdoor settings, staff will review and adapt our district protocols as appropriate.

I want to thank you for the shared commitment to supporting our students and to providing our students with a safe learning environment. With our entire community participating in the layers of mitigation, we have been able to keep our classrooms open, keep our students learning, and keep our community informed.

Kind Regards,

Dr. Carrie Andrews

Superintendent