Dear CRCSD Families,

As we have responded to the pandemic and worked on mitigation measures, we realize that guidance and proactive measures are helpful so that everyone can see the big picture of managing this time together. We have developed guidance to assist us in determining when we can remove our most recent mitigation measures with face-coverings/masks.

Local and Federal Public Health entities support that schools should monitor community transmission, vaccination coverage, screening testing, and occurrence of outbreaks to guide decisions on the level of layered prevention strategies. Linn County and CRCSD COVID-19 data is reviewed each Thursday afternoon.

The following metrics will be considered in determining when mask requirements for students and staff can safely end:

  1. Upon notification of a change/cancellation of the temporary injunction to Iowa Law that restricts enforcement of masking, CRCSD will no longer require masks be worn by students and staff during the compulsory school day.
  2. Linn County 7 day positivity rate below 14%
  3. Linn County transmission level, as defined by IDPH, below “epidemic level” (currently epidemic level)
  4. CRCSD COVID-19 positivity rate below 2%
  5. Linn County 0-17 age group reported cases below 10%
  6. *Potential Future Determining Factor: Vaccination Status:
    a. Students age 12 and over have access to vaccinations
    b. Secondary Schools: If our district gains the access to the data to determine a school has better than 50% immunization rate, then we could use that as a determining factor
    c. Elementary Schools: When the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to students and we have access to the data to determine a school has better than 50% immunization rate, that could be a determining factor

Updated Linn County Public Health data can be found here.

Upon notification of a change/cancellation of the temporary injunction to Iowa Law that restricts enforcement of masking, CRCSD will follow the law.

After the district mask requirement ends, school site specific temporary masking requirements will be considered for students and staff when/if the following occur:

● ≥2% of students are actively COVID-19 positive at an individual school at the time of weekly data collection

AND

● The 5-school-day average daily attendance for illness is ≥8%.

Any school site temporary mask mandate under these circumstances shall last for 10 school days and be extended only if the temporary masking metrics are not met after that 10 days. Any temporary mask mandates for localized outbreaks will be in place for students during hours of compulsory attendance (school day, including pick-up/drop/off and after/before hour PK childcare/wraparound) while indoors, unless additional restrictions are needed or externally ordered.

Vaccination is the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noreen Bush
Superintendent