December 3, 2020
Dear IGSD Parents and Guardians,
Iowa-Grant School District intends to return to in person learning on Monday, December 7th. As of the writing of this message, we have not had any students or staff test positive since the SchoolMessenger email was sent out on Wednesday, November 25th. We do have some individuals who are in quarantine, but even that number is low at present. To date, IGSD has had a total of seven staff members, and ten students test positive for COVID. All of these individuals are projected to be fully recovered by December 7th.
In order to make a return to in-person learning successful, it will be important that each student, staff member, and family do their part:
*An update will be posted on our website and in the next communication sent out regarding COVID once the new Wisconsin guidelines are available from DHS (Wisconsin Department of Health Services) and DPI (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.)
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Stay home if you or someone in your household is sick with COVID symptoms.
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COVID testing expectations: Consider getting tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19.
If you are being tested for COVID-19, remain at home while waiting for your results. Remain at home while waiting for test results of a household member who has symptoms and has been tested.
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Wash hands frequently.
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Cover coughs and sneezes.
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Use face coverings in public.
The system works when we all do these things. At a recent webinar for public health, school nurses, superintendents, and school boards, a doctor said, “We need to do these things simultaneously and with high fidelity.” I believe that many of the issues we have with COVID arise when we get lax on any of these expectations or individuals simply refuse to follow these guidelines.
I know some of these things are very challenging. Staying home is sometimes not only boring, but it can mean a loss of work, money, or sometimes lifetime opportunities. However, if each IG stakeholder commits to following the protocol, we just might be able to have more in person days than virtual days as this pandemic continues. Your quarantine won’t last forever, even though I understand it may feel like it as you journey through.
The numbers of COVID cases in our community continue to be high. Just because your family can send children for in person learning, it may not be what’s best for your family. Parents may elect to keep kids virtual. Please email the building secretaries (IGEMS/Danielle Hasburgh- dhasburgh@igs.k12.wi.us or IGHS/Alisha Pelton-apelton@igs.k12.wi.us) if virtual instruction will be the option your family elects for the month of December. Students and families should go into this option understanding that virtual students will continue to be held to the same attendance and academic standards as in-person students.
Don’t forget that there will be a professional development day for staff and a day off for students on Friday, December 11th.
In reviewing the calendar and desiring to prevent the spread of COVID, we will begin our holiday break on Monday, December 21. December 21st and 22nd will be days off for students! Our hope is that these days will be used to avoid unnecessary social contacts; thus unwanted gifts of COVID at holiday gatherings.
Please remember that at any moment our in person learning could pivot to virtual learning if we have multiple positive staff/students. We are closely monitoring this situation and will provide you with updates if anything changes or further steps are necessary. If you have questions about COVID-19 or need to report a positive case of COVID-19, please do not hesitate to contact our Nurse Sharon Friederick at sfriederick@igs.k12.wi.us. My email address is shubbard@igs.k12.wi.us.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Hubbard, Superintendent IGSD
shubbard@igs.k12.wi.us
608-943-6311 ext 3018