Superintendent's Weekly Update 1-14-2021

 


“The Douglas Public Schools offer diverse learning experiences that meet the academic, social, physical, and emotional needs of all students. We provide a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment in which students may achieve academic success and personal growth. Decisions are made in the best interest of students.” 

Mask Mandate Extended

The mask requirement remains an important measure to keep students safe in school at this time. Consistent with the authority provided by the Board, and after consulting with medical experts and state health officials, the Commissioner is extending the mask requirement through February 28, 2022. The Department will continue to work with medical experts and state health officials to evaluate the mask requirement beyond February 28.

Vaccination ClinicThank you again to our local Board of Health for helping to set up another vaccination and booster clinic at our Elementary School. The clinic will be held on Friday 1/28,22 from 3PM-7PM. The follow up date for the second dose is February 18 from 3PM-7PM. Here is the link to register. https://home.color.com/vaccine/register/transformativehealth?calendar=773558c1-32ac-438f-932d-89653f44d10c

Updated Flowchart and New FAQ:

Following the release on Thursday, December 30 of updated DESE/DPH Protocols for Responding to

COVID-19 Scenarios, DESE released updated flowcharts on Wednesday, January 5 and a new FAQ (download) on Thursday, January 6 that addresses the updated protocols, affirms that people returning from quarantine and isolation can remove their masks to eat meals, and states that “fully vaccinated” in DESE guidance is still defined as two weeks following the completion of the Pfizer or Moderna series or two weeks following a single dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

COVID Dashboard:

Attached is a link to our COVID Dashboard that will be updated weekly. Unlike last year where I sent our letters every time we had a COVID positive case, I will not do that this year. This Dashboard will provide you with weekly numbers by building. We will continue to reach out to close contacts and also to families if they have been exposed to a presumptive positive student.

I also want to thank everyone for their flexibility these last few weeks. The new variant coupled with the holidays has made things problematic for all of us. We have seen a spike in student and staff absenteeism as a result of being symptomatic and/or positive. We are addressing this the best we can in each of the buildings on a daily basis and I want to thank everyone for their assistance with this; it has not been easy. There has been a decline in reported cases the last few days across the State which leads to some optimism that the worst may be behind us. Thank you again for all that you do!


Respectfully,

Paul Vieira, Ed.D.

Superintendent


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