COVID-19 Update

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The school year is off to a great start and everything appears to be going well.   As the COVID cases continue to climb we wrestle with making the best decisions for your child’s safety.  While doing this, we strive to provide the best educational experience for our students and staff. It is our opinion that we accomplish this by having students and staff in our buildings for in-person learning.  We believe that being in physical attendance at our schools is the best situation for students and staff.  We are confident our buildings are well cleaned, students are well supervised, and everyone is doing their best to practice social distancing and handwashing. The quarantine process is taxing on all parties involved and we would like to minimize the spread within schools.   However, in order for us to help protect students and staff and keep our buildings safe, we need to work together.  

We understand the quarantining process may inhibit certain student’s and staff’s educational experiences. Therefore, if the student or staff member is symptom free, we want them in our classrooms and we need them in attendance for their own emotional and educational well-being. We would like your help with the following to allow the schools to protect students and staff and ask individuals to act responsibly to protect themselves and those around them. 

Requests for Modification of Quarantine Parameters

• Please let the school nurse know if you have concerns with a possible exposure or have an identified case in your household.
• If a student or staff member has been exposed, we will ask them to distance themselves responsibly and wear a mask when they are in close parameters to others.  If they develop symptoms, they stay home, if they do not develop symptoms, we can test them on day five with parental consent.
• If you have a positive case in your household, please consider the ramifications of sending a possible COVID positive individual to school. 
• If we experience a building with a higher percentage of cases, we may need to return to some of the practices that were in place during the 20-21 school year.
• Please continue to monitor your child for symptoms and keep them home if they are experiencing any of the identified symptoms. 
• The district has COVID tests available for testing students and we require the parents to complete a permission slip prior to administering the test.  Testing should take place 5 days after a possible exposure.  
• If a student or staff member is vaccinated and not symptomatic, quarantine is not required.  Public Health recommends the vaccination for everyone eligible.
• Each building has masks available for anyone wishing to wear them.  

District Protocols in Effect

• Social distancing will be implemented to the greatest extent possible as per district protocols
• Buildings will continue with their protocols for increased hand washing and sanitizing throughout the day

Final Thoughts

As we move into our fall sports seasons and homecoming events, please keep the protection of our communities and schools a priority.  Many of the cases that showed up in the last school year were associated with large social gatherings.  

As educators of approximately 1,200 students, we are cognizant of the need to keep our students and staff safe while providing the very best education possible.  Thank you for helping us practice safe social protocols and stay the course to protect in-person learning for the entire school year.   A reminder, this is all fluid as we move forward, it may change if we have an increase in cases.

Sincerely,

Mark R. Broderson                                   

Mark R. Broderson

Superintendent

Please contact me if you would like your child to be tested for COVID-19 at the school due to exposure to a positive individual or they are experiencing symptoms. 

JaCee Apland, RN

Hulett School Nurse

Office: (307)467-5231

Cell: (307)290-2868

Email: aplandj@crook1.com