COVID-19 Mitigations
Dear Editor: In an effort to provide clarity and maintain strength in transparency, the Sitka School Board would like to address the community at large regarding current Sitka School District COVID-19 mitigations.
We are proud of the fact that we have had minimal closures of school buildings since March of 2020. In August of 2021 we managed to open our doors to students and keep them open despite a high community infection rate. We understand the importance of in-person learning and will implement whatever measures are necessary to continue to allow for this.
The Sitka School Board has always kept students as our number one priority. We will continue to strive to work together with families and community members in our service. The academic and mental health of our students has remained our primary focus throughout these unprecedented times.
The Sitka School District does NOT require a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for students or staff. Testing is available, but remains optional, and is only completed with written parental consent. Students involved in school‐sponsored extracurricular activities complete mandatory scheduled testing. However, written parental consent is still required. The Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) governs state competitions and requires “pre‐participation COVID testing” before our athletes compete in indoor events. We strongly believe that access to testing has minimized the transmission of COVID-19 within our school buildings.
Our school buildings have been reopened to parent volunteers! As always, parent volunteers will need to follow the procedures to visit within our schools. If you are interested, please call the schools to set up a volunteer time in advance.
The Sitka School District has always had an “off-ramp” for our mitigations built into our plans, including the use of masks. Masks were never intended to be worn indefinitely. They have simply been a short-term solution to ensure that we keep our schools open and have the necessary staff to do so. While we are looking at transitioning to mask‐optional in January, this is subject to not being in the High alert level. While we are in High, we are legally required to follow City and Borough of Sitka Ordinance 2021-32 which requires the use of face coverings in indoor settings.
The Sitka School District has received federal “CARES Act” funds from multiple acts of Congress. Receipt of these funds was not contingent on adhering to an agreed upon mitigation plan; they were distributed to all public school districts throughout the country using an allocation determined by both Congress and the State of Alaska. However, there are strict requirements as to how the funds can be used and what date they need to be spent by. All expenditures are made through roll call votes of the Board in advertised meetings and are a matter of public record. In addition to mitigation-related supplies, funds have been used for technology and for additional staffing to support the increased academic and social needs of students affected by the irregularities caused by COVID-19.
The Sitka School Board thanks the community of Sitka, the Sitka Assembly, students and staff for their flexibility, grace, and input in these dynamic times. We would also like to thank Superintendent Frank Hauser who has done an exemplary job of leading our district over the past six months.
Amy Morrison, Andrew Hames, Paul Rioux, Blossom Teal-Olsen, and Todd Gebler
