DCSD Announces No Change to Mask Requirements or Mitigation Strategies
Saturday, May 15, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released updated guidance for schools. In part, the guidance states:
CDC recently released guidance on the ability of fully vaccinated people to resume pre-pandemic activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. This guidance has raised questions for schools about how to proceed in the current school year. CDC recommends schools continue to use the COVID-19 prevention strategies outlined in the current version of CDC's Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools for at least the remainder of the 2020-2021 academic school year.
Superintendent Mark Lane shared in a message to families, "Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Decorah CSD has based our Return to Learn Plan and decision-making on the most recent available CDC guidance. We will continue to do so. Therefore, there will be no change to our DCSD Face Mask Guidance and Requirements and other safety and mitigation strategies. Additionally, the health and safety protocols communicated last week for commencement remain unchanged.
Lane continued, "I understand this decision will be met with both support and opposition. For over a year, we have never veered from the foundational principles of our Return to Learn Plan and our mission, vision, and values. We will not do so with eight student days remaining in the 2020-2021 school year. We are where we are today because of our diligence and perseverance."
"We are confident our schools and events are safe and healthy environments. We will continue to adhere to our key mitigation practices because we care about our community and we know we play a key role in the safety, health, and well-being of every citizen."
Lane closed his message in this way: "Thank you for following our guidance and expectations for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year, and thank you for your support of Decorah Schools."