|
To: Superintendents, Principals, Charter School Leaders, Private School Leaders, and
ESD Reopening Advisors
Date: May 19, 2021
From: Colt Gill, Director of the Oregon Department of Education
RE: RSSL Face Covering Requirements Clarification
Yesterday, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released updated guidance regarding use of masks, face coverings, and face shields, as well as interim guidance for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In general these updates do not directly impact Ready Schools, Safe Learners (RSSL) guidance. However, these updates do impact students, families, and staff before and after school and we are making some minor RSSL allowances to allow local districts, charter schools, and private schools to better align to these changes. We encourage you to fully read and review both updated OHA guidance documents (linked above) before you make local changes to your operations.
This communication is designed to:
- Clarify guidance related to school sports and activities and graduation ceremonies; and
- Update specific Ready Schools, Safe Learners (RSSL) face covering guidance. (The RSSL guidance document and supplemental guidance documents will be updated in the coming weeks.)
School districts, charter schools, and private schools may still choose to require face coverings universally at all times.
Guidance from OHA on entertainment establishment capacity and physical distancing is currently under review and may be updated in the coming days.
Definitions:
- “Fully vaccinated individual” means an individual has received both doses of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine and at least 14 days have passed since the individual’s final dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
- “Proof of vaccination status” means documentation provided by a tribal, federal, state or local government, or a health care provider, that includes an individual’s name, date of birth, type of COVID-19 vaccination given, date or dates given, depending on whether it is a one-dose or two-dose vaccine, and the name/location of the health care provider or site where the vaccine was administered. Documentation may include, but is not limited to, COVID-19 vaccination record card, or a copy or digital picture of the vaccination record card.
Clarifications:
-
Outdoor Sports: Students, staff, volunteers, and spectators are not required to wear face coverings at outdoor sports events. Until additional updates are provided, all previous physical distancing and capacity restrictions still apply.
-
Indoor Sports: Fully vaccinated students, staff, volunteers, and spectators are not required to wear face coverings at indoor sports events only when vaccination status is checked by the school in a manner described by OHA in guidance. Until additional updates are provided, all previous physical distancing and capacity restrictions still apply.
-
Outdoor Graduation Ceremony: Students, staff, volunteers, and spectators are not required to wear face coverings at outdoor graduation ceremonies. Until additional updates are provided, all previous physical distancing and capacity restrictions still apply.
-
Indoor Graduation Ceremony: Fully vaccinated students, staff, volunteers, and spectators are not required to wear face coverings at indoor graduation ceremonies only when vaccination status is checked by the school in a manner described by OHA in guidance. ODE and OHA recommend outdoor graduation ceremonies with planned reschedule dates for inclement weather. Until additional updates are provided, all previous physical distancing and capacity restrictions still apply.
-
These provisions are optional for the venue operators. School districts, charter schools, and private schools may still choose to require face coverings at these events.
RSSL Updates:
-
Outdoors: Students, staff, volunteers, and visitors are not required to wear face coverings outdoors (including, but not limited to: Outdoor PE, outdoor music, recess, and arrival & dismissal). Until additional updates are provided, all RSSL physical distancing and other related requirements still apply.
-
School Staff Indoors: Fully vaccinated staff are not required to wear face coverings or physically distance inside school buildings when students are not present (such as before and after school or on weekends) only when vaccination status is checked by the school.
-
School Board Meetings Indoors: Fully vaccinated staff, school board members, and community are not required to wear face coverings or physically distance inside at school board meetings if children are not present only when vaccination status is checked by the school. Most children in Oregon are not yet vaccinated. School board meetings are open to the public and students and children are always welcome.
-
These provisions are optional. School districts, charter schools, and private schools may still choose to require face coverings universally at all times.
If a school is experiencing active transmission of COVID-19 or is located in a community experiencing increased rates of COVID-19, they should strongly consider maintaining or reinstating universal requirements for face coverings.
None of these provisions should limit an individual or family decision to continue to wear face coverings in school settings. Schools should take steps to prevent and interrupt teasing, bullying, or harassment related to COVID-19 or COVID-19 mitigation efforts, especially when the civil rights of students may be violated.
Resources:
Again, thank you for all you are doing to support students, families and staff this school year. It is becoming clear to all of us that slowly rolling out of the COVID-19 restrictions and mitigation efforts is nearly as challenging as implementing them. Please do not hesitate to contact the ODECOVID19@ode.state.or.us inbox with any questions.
|
