• Students and staff members will have the choice to wear a mask at school, with the expectation
  that others’ choices will be respected.
• A student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate for five (5) days,
  regardless of vaccination status, and test upon return to school on day 6 or wear a well-fitted
  mask or face shield with a drape for days 6-10. If choosing not to test or wear a well-fitting mask,
  students and staff members are required to complete the full 10-day isolation period.
• Any student or staff member who reports or exhibits COVID-19-like symptoms is required to be
  immediately isolated from others, sent home, and referred to diagnostic testing as soon as
  feasible, regardless of vaccination status.
• Masks are required in the nurse/health room and isolation room inside our school buildings.
• Masks may also be required universally during clusters and/or outbreaks in classrooms or with
  groups of students (e.g., a choir class or a sports team) to limit disease transmission and ensure
  in-person instruction.
• Schools will provide masks and other appropriate PPE to students and staff members as needed
  or desired.
• The COVID-19 Dashboard at www.cheneysd.org will continue to be updated daily.
• Families will be notified when there is an outbreak in a student’s class/cohort/team.
• Access to diagnostic testing will be available at all school buildings for students and staff members
  with symptoms or who were potentially exposed and want to test.

• Conducting rapid diagnostic testing to individuals who wish to test
• Exercising good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene
• Cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces

Dear Staff, Parents and Guardians,

Throughout the past 23 months, as a community we have worked through many challenges, changes, and a variety of unknown circumstances associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. As COVID case rates and hospitalizations continue to decline I am encouraged that the pandemic and the restrictions that have come with it are gradually coming to an end, or to at least a more manageable state.

In recent weeks there has been considerable discussion within the region and state related to mask requirements, specifically within indoor settings, including schools.  Today, Governor Inslee held a press conference and shared indoor masking guidance moving forward. Specifically, he lifted the indoor masking requirement effective March 21^st (including in schools). Masks will still be required on school buses per a federal mandate that requires masks to be worn on all forms of public transportation (although, this requirement will be revisited by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mid-March).

While I realize many are weary of masks and will want to stop wearing masks immediately, we are legally required to follow the Governor’s directive, which currently requires masks in school facilities until March 21^st. Thus, we are requesting that each student, family, and staff member remain patient and continue to follow the masking requirement that is currently in place through Friday, March 18^th. 

Although there is now a timeline in place to make masking optional for children and adults within schools, some staff members and families will remain concerned about their health and safety moving forward.  Respectfully, the District will be honoring the choices of individuals who continue to wear masks and take additional precautionary measures after the mask mandate ends.

In closing, we have worked through so much together in the past two years.  Thus, I am confident that we can successfully navigate the timeline that has been established for the end of mandatory indoor masking and the upcoming changes that will follow. 

Thank you for your continued patience and support of our children, staff, schools, and district. 

Take care,

Rob Roettger, Superintendent

*A Fact Sheet is available below as a reference tool.