November 4, 2020
Hello Families:
The state has released updated COVID-19 reopening metrics, making it possible for more schools in Oregon to open to in-person instruction. Some state COVID-19 requirements have been relaxed, bringing Oregon closer to the standards recommended by the CDC and more in line with the requirements set by most states. This means possibly allowing students to return to in-school instruction sooner. Currently, Lane County’s COVID-19 case rate is still too high for us to welcome our 4-12 students back to school.
Here are the changes announced by Governor Kate Brown that take effect immediately.
Safety: Before we welcome more students back to the school building, our staff has to be continually trained on the required health and safety protocols in our schools. While COVID-19 can be mitigated in schools, we cannot completely eliminate the risk of exposure. That’s why we must be ready to implement the public health protocols in order to incrementally increase access for in-person instruction.
Staff Preparation: The relaxed standards mean we are closer to reopening our schools (particularly for students in grades 4-6), but transitioning to in-person instruction safely is a high priority. While learning the new health and safety protocols in the building, teachers will also have to pivot from Distance Learning to Hybrid Instruction, prepare their classrooms, and more. In addition, elementary school grades will be serving both Hybrid (partial in-person) and Comprehensive Distance Learning environments. This is another reason the shift to in-person learning cannot and should not be rushed.
When Will We Reopen: We do not have a set date for the increasing the amount of students returning to in-person instruction in our schools. Elementary grades are emphasized in the updated guidance from the state. You will be receiving updates from us when Lane County’s numbers improve and we get closer to the possibility of bringing more students back in the buildings. It is important to remember that the COVID numbers in Lane County will determine our planning and timelines. The lower the numbers, the closer we get to reopening.
Communication: There are sure to be many questions and we will address them to the best of our ability. We are committed to be in regular communication with you as we move forward, sharing any news relevant to students in grades 4-12 coming back to school.
If we follow the protocols and carefully work through the challenges we will be able to bring all- students back safely and successfully.
Here’s a chart showing Lane County rates. Due to the size of Lane County, the two metrics we review are County Case Rate (per 100,000) and County Test Positivity.
| Lane County (Large County Size) | ||
| Time Period | Cases per 100K | Test Positivity |
| 10/4/2020 – 10/17/2020 | 164.4 | 6.9% |
| 10/11/2020 – 10/24/2020 | 146.7 | 6.8% |
| 10/18/2020 – 10/31/2020 | 133.0 | 6.7% |