Dear Quaker Families,
Salem City Schools is looking forward to seeing all students return to in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year!
Many concerned parents have been contacting us in regards to what our masking policy will look like this school year. Currently, there are no federal or state mandates that require masking in public schools. However, we are strongly recommending universal masking for all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, following the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics. With the Delta variant affecting more children, who are not yet eligible for vaccines, we want to urge all families and guardians to carefully consider having your child wear a mask to protect themselves and prevent the spread of Covid-19. We were able to keep the spread of Covid-19 contained in school last year, in part due to masking, as well as other precautionary measures.
Students and staff are federally mandated to wear a mask on any school transportation, including to and from school, attending sporting events, and extracurricular activities. If your student is riding a bus for any reason, please make sure he or she has a mask in their school bag for this purpose.
At this time, vaccinations are available for all students twelve years of age and older. We will be holding another vaccination clinic for our students in the near future. More information will follow in regards to the clinic.
Should you have any questions or concerns with our stance on masking, please feel free to contact my directly.
Sincerely,
Sean Kirkland
