SDMA COVID-19 Update- Mask Survey

SDMA COVID-19 UPDATE - MASK SURVEY
Posted on 07/28/2021

Dear SDMA Families and Staff,

The first official day of classes for the 2021-2022 school year is only five weeks away. I am looking forward to seeing all of our students, faculty, and staff for another great year in the School District of the Menomonie Area (SDMA).

In addition to all of the regular planning that occurs during the summer, school officials continue to monitor information related to the COVID-19 pandemic. While it has been great to see so many activities return to more normalcy this summer, a heightened level of concern is now being shared by the CDC and other medical advisors due to the recent spread of the Delta variant. Yesterday, the CDC recommended that all students and staff wear masks in schools regardless of vaccination status.

The school board and administrative team are working hard to develop a plan for the school year that will provide a robust and enjoyable educational experience with prioritizing the health and safety of our students, staff, and community. Many school districts in the region have already decided that the use of masks will be optional for the start of the school year, but a decision related to masks in the SDMA is not anticipated to be made until August 9. School board members will need to vote on a plan based on what each member thinks is the best decision for our schools, but the district always values input from families, staff, students, and other school district stakeholders. 

In order to help facilitate input on any decisions related to masking requirements, the district has created this brief online survey which will remain open until 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 4.  Parents are welcome to complete one survey for each child attending school in the district.

With these recent developments, the district has extended the deadline for families wishing to enroll children into the SDMA Virtual School Option until Thursday, August 12. This will allow families time to review the plan that the Board approves prior to making a decision. The district cannot guarantee acceptance into the program for any applications received after the deadline.

More information about the upcoming school year will be coming soon in the SDMA Back-to-School Newsletter.

Sincerely,

Joe Zydowsky