Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Superintendent Crawford made this decision based upon the following evidence:

• CDPHE estimates a 91% immunity rate in Colorado from either vaccinations or COVID positives.

• Summit County positive cases continue to decrease: from over 3,500 per 100k in early January to 103.2 as of February 22. Public Health believes this trend will continue.

• Summit County positivity rate has decreased from 29.9% in early January to 6% on February 22.  

• Cases in schools from early January, 2022 are down from 110 per week to 21 per week as of February 11.

• School screening testing continues to show a positivity rate of less than 2%. 

Masks are still required per public health in the following circumstances:

• Per federal mandate, students must wear a mask when riding Summit Stage buses. 

• In all SSD preschool classrooms per federal mandate.

• SSD will continue to follow guidance requiring masking for individuals who have tested positive for COVID and return after 5 days; and those who have been a close contact to a person who has tested positive for COVID outside of school.

Masks may still be required:

• If there is an outbreak in a school group where spread has been identified (e.g., class, sport team, grade, etc) for a determined amount of time.

• If the number and severity of community COVID cases were to increase significantly.  

Reminders:

• Fully vaccinated people are 2.3 times less likely to become infected. Get vaccinated and get your booster!

• Staff and students are encouraged to wear masks if they so choose. KN95 masks are recommended.

• Stay home if you are sick and have COVID-like symptoms.

• SSD personnel will not be responsible to enforce a parent’s desire for their child to wear a mask in school.  

SCREENING TESTING TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD OF COVID IN SCHOOLS

• Students are encouraged to participate in screening testing.
• You can still sign your child up for Screening Testing. Register here.
• Please keep your child home if they are experiencing any COVID symptoms or are ill.

MASKS

• We suggest that students & staff wear N95 or KN95 masks at all times when in buildings. These masks offer protection that is up to 60% more effective than cloth masks. Masks are available online.

STAFFING SHORTAGES

• If we don’t have enough staff to safely hold school in a particular building, we will temporarily transition to online learning instruction in that building only.
• SSD’s threshold for transitioning to online learning is when more than 15%-20% of certificated staff are out.

HOW LONG WILL STUDENTS MOVE TO ONLINE LEARNING?

• If online learning is the only option, students will be online for a period of five consecutive instructional days.

COMMUNICATION: HOW & WHEN WILL FAMILIES KNOW?

• We will communicate ASAP as decisions will be made the evening before the transition to online learning environments.
• Communication will be shared via email, text & social media.  

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR STUDENT IS [HOME] SICK,  IN ISOLATION OR QUARANTINED 

(COVID & any other illness) 

• If your child is home sick, in isolation or quarantining, please contact your child’s teacher for any work they are able to complete.

HOW WILL STUDENTS COMPLETE SCHOOL WORK?

• Starting this week, K-12 students should begin taking home devices each day in the event their school begins online learning.
• For the first day of online instruction, students will work independently or asynchronously on assigned school work to allow for additional staff planning time.
• Hotspots are available for students who do not have adequate internet access. Contact your child’s school if you need a hotspot.