Brookings-Harbor School District students, parents, families, teachers and staff,
Today the Oregon Department of Education announced upcoming changes to the Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework that holds requirements and guidelines for school operations to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep schools safe and open.
The big news is that after March 31, the state will lift it’s mask requirement and return that decision to local control – so each school and district can make a decision in partnership with their local health authority on how to proceed.
The March 31 date was set because community transmission of COVID remains high across the state, but there are indications that the Omicron surge has peaked and will begin to recede in the coming weeks. Hospitalizations due to COVID are also beginning to fall statewide, but at a slower pace.
The impact of the latest surge has been felt in our district. BHSD has had more than 100 reported student and staff cases of COVID since the return to school on Jan. 3rd, resulting in isolation for those individuals and quarantine for others, changes in operations, and general stress to the system.
- March 31 provides time for the case rates to substantially decrease allowing the change in masking rules without significantly increasing risk.
- March 31 also provides time for families to get their children vaccinated against COVID, if they wish, prior to the change going into effect.
- March 31 provides time for the schools to plan for whatever changes are needed under updated quarantine rules to continue to prioritize in-person learning.
Until March 31, the current statewide indoor school mask requirement is still in effect as it has been since the start of the school year.
David Marshall, Superintendent
Feb. 7, 2022