Masks Deemed Optional For 2021-2022 School Year In Greeley-Evans District
The Greeley-Evans School District will not require fully vaccinated students and staff to wear face masks for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year.
Dr. Deirdre Pilch, Superintendent of the Greeley-Evans School District shared updated protocols for the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year in a letter addressed to the district community on Wednesday morning (July 28).
In the letter shared via the official Greeley-Evans School District website, Pilch indicated that the decision for students and staff who are fully vaccinated to wear a mask or another face covering will be based on “personal choice.”
“We will respect any student and staff member who chooses to wear a face covering if they are fully vaccinated,” Pilch said in the letter.
However, the district "strongly" recommends that students and staff who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing masks in district schools.
As of Wednesday morning (July 28), the Greeley-Evans School District intends on implementing the following rules and protocols for the upcoming school year, based on current state guidelines from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, as well as updates guidelines for K-12 schools via the Center for Disease Control (CDC):
- Students and staff who are fully vaccinated will not be required to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19.
- Students and staff who tested positive for COVID-19 up to 90-days prior to being exposed to COVID-19 will not be required to quarantine.
- Students and staff who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated, but who properly and continually wear a face covering at school, will not be required to quarantine if exposed to COVID-19.
- Greeley-Evans School District 6 will continue contact tracing and targeted quarantines as needed, with an emphasis on quarantining the least number of students possible in the case of a positive or probable exposure to COVID-19.
- Face coverings will not be required on District 6 school buses or other District 6 transportation for fully vaccinated students and staff.
- Face coverings are strongly recommended for those not fully vaccinated on District 6 school buses and other District 6 transportation. As of July 28, 2021, students who ride the Greeley-Evans Transit buses to and from school will still be required to wear a face covering under city of Greeley rules.
- Greeley-Evans School District 6 will continue to offer COVID-19 testing for students and staff.
- Weekly testing will be available for families who want their unvaccinated child tested.
- Social distancing and frequent hand washing will continue to be reinforced.
- Air filtration systems will continue in our classrooms and meeting spaces.
- COVID-19 cleaning protocols will remain in place.
Temperatures, however, will no longer be monitored upon entrance to district schools. Rather, it is expected that parents, guardians and students will continue to check for COVID-19 symptoms on a daily basis at home before leaving for school.
“It is essential that any student with any COVID-19 symptoms be kept at home and not sent to school,” Pilch said on behalf of the district. “This is still the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and will help us keep our students safe and learning.”
Although not mandatory, temperature kiosks will be available at the entrance of school buildings.
Pilch did note in her letter to the Greeley-Evans School District community that these guidelines could change at any time based on the progression of COVID-19 cases in the district, community and state.
The Greeley-Evans School District 6 will continue to offer online K-12 school for the the year for families who prefer this choice (for more information about the online academy, click here.)
For those attending school in-person, the classroom breakfast program will continue, and lunch will be served from the cafeteria in most schools, with an expanded menu from last year. All students in the district will continue to receive free meals - should they choose to take them - regardless of their family income.
The Greeley-Evans School District will be implementing a rolling start to the 2021-2022 school year; start dates for students are as follows:
First Day of School:
Grades 9th - 12th: August 12
Grades 1st - 8th with Last Name A through L: August 12
Grades 1st - 8th with Last Name M through Z: August 13
Kindergarten with Last Name A through L: August 17
Kindergarten with Last Name M through Z: August 18
Preschool: August 19
To view the full letter to the district regarding the 2021-2022 school year, click here.
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