St. Joseph Public Schools has dropped the district’s mask rule. In a letter to parents Thursday, Superintendent Jenny Fee said with the state and county withdrawing mask recommendations for schools, masks will no longer be required at St. Joe, effective Friday. The requirement to wear a mask while on a school bus remains in effect per a CDC order. Fee writes a decline in positive cases among staff, students, and the community at large, greater vaccine access and rates, natural immunity, a less severe Omicron variant also all contribute to the decision to withdraw the mask rule. For now, the district will continue to notify parents if their child is identified as a close contact due to exposure at school of a COVID-19 positive person. However, at this time, close contacts can remain in school as long as the person is free of COVID symptoms.
Here is the text of the letter to parents from SJ School Superintendent Jenny Fee:
February 17, 2022
Dear SJPS Staff and Families,
This letter provides important information regarding adjustments to the SJPS masking requirement and COVID-19 mitigation measures.
Masking at SJPS
Given the release yesterday of updated MDHHS masking guidance, which withdrew the Public Health Advisory on masking in indoor public settings, including school settings, coupled with a precipitous decline in positive cases among staff, students, and the community at large, greater vaccine access and rates, natural immunity, a less severe Omicron variant, and a revised BCHD quarantine framework, beginning Friday, February 18, SJPS will no longer require mask wearing by staff, students, and visitors in SJPS facilities. The requirement to wear a mask while on school transportation remains in effect per CDC order.
Throughout the school year we continued to assess COVID-19 conditions related to schools. In November, the conditions moved in a positive direction and we were close to removing the mask requirement. Unfortunately, the Omicron surge occurred and we paused the removal of the mask requirement. COVID-19 conditions have again moved in a positive direction allowing the district to shift from masks being required to masks being recommended. Since February 7, 2022, just nine positive cases were reported to the district and only three cases have been reported since February 10, 2022. This is in stark contrast to early January when 257 positive cases were reported to the district over a two week period.
School-based Close Contacts (Quarantine) and Isolation for Positive Cases
For now, the district will continue to notify you if your child is identified as a close contact due to exposure at school of a COVID-19 positive individual. The Berrien County Health Department (BCHD) recommends all close contacts who were unmasked and not up to date on their vaccines to quarantine; however, at this time, close contacts may remain in school as long as the person is free of COVID-19 symptoms. BCHD does recommend that close contacts wear a mask to school on days 1-10 from the date of exposure. If you are notified that your child is a close contact and you choose to quarantine your child, please notify the school office so that we may update your child’s attendance accordingly. MDHHS’ updated masking guidance states that all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, should wear a mask during isolation and quarantine periods.
Household Close Contacts and Testing
If your child is a close contact due to exposure with a COVID-positive household member, your child should follow MDHHS guidance for household close contacts/general public. COVID-19 testing for students and staff is available Monday through Friday at the SJPS Central Office (2580 S. Cleveland Avenue) from 6:30 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. There will be no testing on February 18 or 21, due to school not being in session on those dates.
Vaccination
Vaccination provides the greatest protection against transmission and severe cases of COVID-19. All families are strongly encouraged to vaccinate their children ages five and up and for previously vaccinated eligible individuals to obtain a booster. The availability of this strong additional mitigation tool, accompanied by other mitigation strategies such as higher vaccination rates, increased ventilation, frequent hand washing, thorough cleaning procedures, testing, and staying home when sick, allows us to lessen the intensity of other mitigation strategies, such as masking and school removal based on exposure.
Thank you for your patience as we navigate and adjust to the ever changing conditions of the pandemic. Your continued support of SJPS is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jenny Fee, Superintendent
