Dear Shaker Heights Schools Families,
At this time, the District is planning for a return to in-person learning for all students on Tuesday, January 4. We believe consistent in-person learning provides the best social-emotional and educational environment for our students.
Based on current COVID-19 data, we do expect that there will continue to be a significant amount of COVID-19 spread throughout the community over the next few weeks. Given this trend, we will continue to reinforce the following
health and safety protocols:
- All staff, students and visitors to District buildings are required to wear masks over their mouths and noses indoors.
- Physical distancing of at least three feet will be maintained whenever possible.
- Students will have opportunities for regular hand washing and sanitizing.
Please keep your child home when exhibiting ANY of the following symptoms: headache, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, fever or chills, new uncontrolled cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. Please test for COVID-19 if symptoms are present and report positive cases to the District as soon as possible. School nurses continue to have a limited number of tests available on an as-needed basis.
Most importantly, the District urges all eligible individuals to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive a booster once eligible.
As we have shared previously, there remains a chance that your student may need to shift to remote learning for a period of time with short notice, due to staffing shortages or COVID-19 spread. We ask that families have a plan prepared in the event that this becomes necessary for your student.
The District is also reviewing the recently released guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that reduces the number of isolation days (from 10 days to 5 days) for individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19. We will share additional communication regarding any changes in our health and safety protocols in the near future.
I wish you a happy New Year and look forward to the return from winter break next week.
Sincerely,
Dr. David Glasner
Superintendent, Shaker Heights Schools