Dear CSD families and staff,

It’s difficult to believe that December is already here! This week’s edition of the CSD40 Update includes a video highlighting some of the learning and fun activities that took place across the district during the month of November. We hope that, like us, you are looking forward to an enjoyable month ahead.

With winter fast approaching, please sign up for our FlashAlert notification system that will provide information and updates should inclement weather impact our bus routes or school day. Additional details are included within the CSD40 Update newsletter.

As I shared earlier this week, Oregon Department of Education (ODE), Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and Lane County Public Health (LCPH) recently provided several updates to COVID-19 protocols that affect K-12 schools.

Outdoor Face Coverings

Revisions to two OHA rules mean that masks will now be optional outdoors, including recess, P.E. classes, or other times when students may be outside. Students should continue to maintain 3-6 feet of physical distancing from one another and hand-washing or sanitizing should take place as students reenter buildings. In accordance with Governor Brown’s order and OARs 333-019-1025 and 333-019-1015, masks remain required for indoor settings.

Lane County Quarantine Modifications

Based on new guidelines from OHA and Lane County Public Health, unvaccinated or not yet fully vaccinated students who are determined to have been in close contact with a person who has tested positive or is presumed positive for COVID-19 in school settings where universal masking is fully implemented*:

• Should quarantine for seven (7) days.
• Should seek testing from the school district 7 days following their last exposure. Parent/guardian permission is required for testing.
• If the close contact has a negative result on a test collected on day 7 by antigen or PCR test, they may return to normal activities on day eight (8).
• If a student chooses not to test, they must follow LCPH standard guidance and quarantine for 10 days.
• Close contacts should continue to monitor themselves for symptoms 14 days after their last exposure.

*Note that the modified quarantine is not available to students whose exposure was outside of school or was at a time during or after the regular school day where masks were not consistently worn.

If a student in quarantine develops primary symptoms of COVID, they will be required to isolate for 10 days from the onset of symptoms, regardless of test results.

In the event they have close contact with a person who has tested positive or is presumed positive for COVID-19, fully vaccinated students who do not have COVID-19 symptoms are not required to quarantine; however, it is still recommended they be tested 5-7 days after exposure.

Test-to-Stay

We are monitoring the test-to-stay conversation with OHA, ODE, and LCPH and are ready to implement a protocol upon receipt of full details. I will share additional information as soon as it is available.

With kind regards,

Mike Johnson
Superintendent