Dear Dragon Community,

As of February 1, 2022 we are no longer contact tracing, as per direction from DESE and AHD.

Masks are optional and encouraged. Families are encouraged to speak to their physicians for medical-based decisions regarding vaccinations.

Our learning plan and use of ESSR funds have been shared and discussed with the Board of Education with monthly COVID reports and updates, City Council, Family & Community Engagement, and Wellness Committees, as well as opportunities for public comment. Public comments have included questions about making up assignments and thanks for allowing parents to determine if masks or vaccinations are to be used.

We are seeing increased internet access in the community, and we do have hot-spots and devices available for check-out when needed. The community is welcome and encouraged to submit concerns and comments using the Public Comment link below.

As always, if you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me or our team of school nurses and administrators.

Sincerely,

Dr. Debbie Atwell

Superintendent

Mountainburg Schools will continue to offer on-site instruction.

We recognize there is a loss of learning from the disruptions during previous years. We are providing additional literacy and math support, credit recovery, and tutoring. Please contact your student's principal or counselor for more information if your student has failed or not completed courses from the fall or spring semesters.

We ask for your assistance regarding preventative measures and best practices that will support a strong in-person learning environment:

Vaccinations: Covid-19 vaccines are the most effective strategy to protect people from getting sick and to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19. Students who are ages 12 and older are now eligible to receive vaccinations. Fully vaccinated students or staff do not need to quarantine if deemed close contacts unless they develop symptoms.

Because our schools serve many children under the age of 12 who are not eligible for vaccination at this time or are not fully vaccinated, we will continue practicing preventative measures such as appropriate masking, physical distancing, screening, ventilation, handwashing, and respiratory etiquette, staying home when sick and getting tested, contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine, and cleaning and disinfecting to the extent practical.

Screening: Do not attend classes or school events if you are sick. Students and staff should stay home when sick until symptom and fever-free: Fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, or been in contact with someone covid positive.

Masks: As of July 9, 2021, CDC guidance states, "consistent and correct mask use by people who are not fully vaccinated is especially important indoors and in crowded settings."

At this time, masks are optional, and highly encouraged for those who are not fully vaccinated and when indoors in close settings.

• Indoors: Mask use is recommended for people who are not fully vaccinated including students, teachers, and staff. Children under 2 years of age should not wear a mask
• Outdoors: In general, people do not need to wear masks when outdoors. However, particularly in areas of substantial high transmission, the CDC recommends that people not fully vaccinated wear a mask in crowded settings or during activities that involve sustained close contact with other people who are not fully vaccinated

Individuals exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 will not need to be quarantined if they have no symptoms and both the infected and exposed individual consistently and correctly were wearing a mask.

Point of Contact and Reporting Positive Cases: We are no longer contact tracing. Contact Nurse Amber Breeden or Nurse Amy Hale for assistance with rapid covid testing for faculty, staff, and students.

Other tools: We will continue to practice safety and sanitation practices, such as contact tracing, spraying and disinfecting facilities, providing hand sanitizer throughout the schools, encouraging hand washing, emphasizing social distancing, health screenings, and all other Health Department directives.

Busing: Windows will be opened when possible. It is recommended that students sanitize hands before and after entering buses, distance when possible, and wear masks.

While attendance is important, please do not come to school or work if you are sick, and contact Nurse Amber Breeden or Amy Hale if you have symptoms or have been exposed.

We will continue with as many student activities, parent and community events as possible, and incorporate measures to promote safety and ensure strong on-site learning, such as extended times for Open House to help spread out groups, etc.

We encourage fans to bring lawn chairs and spread out during football games, etc.

Students can access assignments through Google Classroom or paper packets while out of school for quarantine or isolation. Hotspots and devices are available for check out. Please contact the school offices for assistance with learning when students are isolated or quarantined.

We are grateful for the federal funds made available to assist in our response to covid. We have used funds to provide High-Quality Instructional Materials, teacher professional development and coaching, direct student support, purchase teacher and student technology software and devices, ensure safe and sanitized facilities, purchase two additional buses with AC, and improve air quality through additional space and air quality. Use of ESSR funds must be Covid related, necessary, reasonable, and allowable.

We appreciate input from our community, parents, and supporters as we move forward. Please feel free to submit your reflections, needs, and suggestions for public comment through the form link below. If you have personal or confidential concerns please address them with your student's school counselor or principal.

• Honor our History through Values and Traditions
• Build our present through Teamwork and Collaboration
• Create our future through Creativity and Innovation

Dr. Debbie Atwell is serving her sixth year as superintendent. She and husband Roger are MHS graduates, life long residents of the community, and are owned by dogs Woodrow & Sadie.

Email: debbie.atwell@mountainburg.org
Website: www.mountainburg.org
Location: 129 Hwy 71 SW, Mountainburg
Phone: 479-369-2121