FACE-COVERING REQUIREMENTS - IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM 09/30/21
SPAPSD Families and Staff:
The purpose of this communication is to inform you that all students and staff, PK-12, will be required to wear a face-covering regardless of vaccination status when indoors at District schools, buildings, and events through the remainder of 1st Quarter, November 4. Specific requirements for students, staff, and those visiting district facilities or participating in district-sponsored events may be viewed here. Requirements will continue to be monitored throughout the school year.
Our primary responsibility to our students, and this community, is to preserve face-to-face educational opportunities for students. Tomorrow will mark the 22nd day of in-person instruction for students of the 2021-22 school year. Last year, we did not reach 22 days of in-person instruction for elementary students until October 19 and secondary students until January 4. Masked students within 3 feet of a positive case are required to quarantine; if students were unmasked, those within 6 feet of a positive case would be required to quarantine. As we watch other schools around the state move in and out of e-learning, this mitigation tactic is providing us the best chance of maintaining in-person learning, 5 days a week for the highest number of students.
Face-coverings will not be required for outdoor activities including recess, outdoor classrooms/learning, outdoor athletics, or when actively eating and drinking. If a medical provider has indicated that a student or staff member should not wear a face-covering, please contact the building principal.
Per CDC Order 'requirement for persons to wear masks while on conveyances and at transportations hubs' issued February 2020, all passengers and drivers on school buses are required to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. Please remind your student(s) of the importance of wearing masks while on school buses.
Please know this decision has not been made lightly, and not without consideration of the input we have received from parents and community members on both sides of the issue. We take seriously our responsibility to provide students and staff the safest learning environment to the extent possible in these continued circumstances.
Sincerely,
Craig Gerlach, Ed.S.
Superintendent
