Oregon Mask Mandates for the 2021-2022 School Year
What to do about masks, social distancing, and quarantining for the 2021-2022 school year?
Oregon Department of Education’s Ready Safe Learners guidelines is now leaving most decisions up to the local agencies. This means that every school board/Superintendant will be the ultimate decision-makers regarding masking, social distancing, quarantining, and vaccination discrimination policies.
Here is the ODE’s policy: “Resiliency Framework for the 2021-22 school year”. It focuses on advisory health and safety recommendations. The majority of health and safety protocols, including face coverings and physical distancing, are advisory, meaning school districts, public charter schools, and private schools will have the option to implement, as appropriate. This will allow flexibility for school districts to design their own return to school plans that best meet the needs of their community. As school districts across Oregon finalize their own plans for the upcoming school year, each district’s approach must:
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Have a plan: School districts must have a communicable disease management plan that describes the measures they’ve taken to limit the spread of COVID-19 in their schools.
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Stay home if exposed: School officials are required to exclude any staff or student whom they suspect has been exposed to COVID-19 and will work closely with local public health to determine exposures.
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Isolate if sick: If a student gets sick during the day, schools must have a space for that student to rest and be monitored by staff until they are able to go home.
Note: Per federal mandate, passengers and drivers must wear a face covering on school buses, including on buses operated by public and private school systems.
There is a large and growing body of physicians, pediatricians, scientists, epidemiologists, and researchers around the world that are speaking out against the anti-scientific public health recommendations of universal masking, etc. that have been forced upon our children.
Several school boards in Oregon have already decided to make masks optional, leaving it up to the parent or student to decide what is best for their family. However, there are many that have not yet announced their decision. Your kids need you to show up and fight for them.
We at CHD Oregon, have provided information on what you, as a parent, grandparent, or concerned citizen can do in order to enact change at the local level. Please make your voice heard! As stakeholders in the future of our children, our voices can and are making a difference!
What can you do as a parent/stakeholder in your child’s educational environment?
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Go straight to those in charge of your child’s education and make an appointment with the principal about your concerns over masking. Bring copies of relevant studies that support the health risks of masks. See CHD resources.
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Contact your local school board. Write a letter to each board member. Go to the next school board meeting. Bring like-minded parents because there is power in numbers. During the school board meeting, members are required by law to have a certain amount of time (usually three minutes per person) for the public to speak on any topic, even if it is not on the agenda.
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Write to your school Superintendant and set up a meeting to discuss your concerns. Here are sample letters that you can make your own to send to your school board and Superintendant.
Sample Letter 1 on Mask Mandates for Schoolchildren
Sample Letter 2 on Mask Mandates for Schoolchildren
Sample Letter 3 on Mask Mandates for Schoolchildren
Sample Letter 4 on Mask Mandates for Schoolchildren
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Local school districts are in charge of setting health and safety rules. Find information on your Oregon school district’s plan by finding your local school district below:
