February 28 Update From Superintendent Flores: CDPH Announces Upcoming Changes To Indoor Masking Mandates For Schools

Press release from the Gilroy Unified School District:

February 28, 2022

Dear GUSD Families and Staff,

"As promised, I am sending this update about changes to mask mandates for K-12 schools, including the schools in the Gilroy Unified School District, and what you can expect on our campuses in the upcoming weeks.

February 28, 2022 Announcement from Governor Newsom

This morning Governor Newsom announced that with declining case rates and hospitalizations across the west, California, Oregon and Washington are moving together to update their masking guidance. After 11:59 p.m. on March 11, California, Oregon and Washington will adopt new indoor mask policies and move from mask requirements to mask recommendations in schools.

This announcement provided the current guidelines:

• Masking is still mandated indoors until the end of the day Friday, March 11.
• The first day of in-class instruction with voluntary masking will be Monday, March 14.
• There is no distinction between vaccinated and unvaccinated in the new state policy.

GUSD will follow CDPH guidance for indoor masking. Therefore, indoor masking will be strongly recommended, but not required, for students and staff.

How Does This Impact Your Child?

Currently, all students in California are required to wear masks indoors for a district to remain in compliance with state law. CDPH will be updating its K-12 Schools Guidance to reflect that masks will be strongly recommended, but not required, to mask while indoors, beginning Monday, March 14, 2022.

Masking is still required by all while indoors on our campuses through the end of the day on March 11. Until that date, the mask mandate for staff and students on all GUSD campuses is still in effect. Staff and students can choose to wear masks indoors on our campuses beginning on Monday, March 14, 2022.

We acknowledge that lifting the mask requirement may cause anxiety for some people, especially those who are at higher risk for COVID or live with someone who is at higher risk. Mask wearing is still strongly recommended by the State and continues to be an option for every student or staff member who wishes to wear one at any time. Our continued expectation is that everyone (staff, students, and parents) will be respectful of an individual’s decision to wear a mask or not to wear a mask.

We continue to focus on mitigation strategies that have been successful: self-monitoring for symptoms, regular testing, high-quality ventilation systems, and encouraging vaccines, while respecting the personal choice for all members of our school communities and taking personal responsibility to help keep our staff and students healthy and well.

Respecting Personal Choice

• Starting March 11, at 11:59 pm, California is providing personal choice for masking in schools with the expectation that individual choices are respected.
• One should not make assumptions regarding someone’s beliefs or health status based upon an individual’s choice to wear or not wear a mask, nor should individuals comment on others’ choices.
• If your child(ren) expresses anxiety about this change, support is available. Please communicate with staff members at your child’s school site to identify best options.

Responsibility

• Students and staff should continue to remain home when sick.
• Students and staff are encouraged to take a COVID-19 test if exhibiting symptoms and/or if they have a known exposure to COVID-19.
• If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they should report the result and follow the recommended protocols.

Thank you for your collaboration as we continue to navigate what is hopefully the move toward the endemic phase of this pandemic."

Take care of each other,
Dr. Deborah A. Flores, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Gilroy Unified School District

This press release was produced by the Gilroy Unified School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.