Update from Dr. Johnson as we look ahead to 2022
Cassville R-IV School District has remained flexible in doing our very best for the educational needs of our students despite the many outside distractions associated with social media panic, political unpredictability, and strong opinions concerning best practices in dealing with COVID-19. I would like to assure parents that last Friday’s national TikTok threat posed no danger to Cassville R-IV students. Our administrative team was aware of this sinister social media activity and did an outstanding job communicating with the Cassville Police Department. I appreciate Chief of Police Kammerlohr for promptly and professionally responding to this situation by increasing officer presence throughout all of our campuses during the day. The administration and police officers quickly determined that this national social media threat was too vague and posed no specific threat to any particular location. In every decision we make, the safety of our students and staff will always be our top priority. This is a good time to remind ourselves and our students that if they hear or see something, they should report it immediately to an adult.
With the most recent letter from the Missouri Attorney General, it was determined that we should update our Return to Learn Plan for the remainder of the school year. At this time, we will shift into Engagement Level 1 which includes traditional seated in-person instruction with health precautions. We will no longer enforce quarantines or isolations for students or staff who have been determined to be a close contact of a positive case. We will partner with parents to exclude students from the school setting who have or who are liable to transmit any known illness. We will continue to contact trace and notify all students and staff who are determined to be close contacts. Close contacts will be asked to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Students and staff deemed to be close contacts may choose to self-quarantine, but will not be required to do so. Confirmed COVID-19 notifications will result in exclusion from the school setting. A positive COVID-19 test will exclude all students/staff until cleared by a negative test (with no symptoms) or 10 days from the onset of symptoms (with no symptoms). If you have any questions or concerns about our Return to Learn updates, you can view the plan on our website or you may contact any school administrator.
At Cassville Schools, we are always looking and preparing forward. We continue to ask: What more can we do? These questions have been at the forefront of many Cassville R-IV leadership conversations. We have involved our administrators, building leadership teams, parents, medical and health professionals, and board of education members. As we prepare for the second semester our focus remains on doing our best for students and staff. Our students and their learning are at the center of everything we do. We will continue to support our teachers, leaders and staff who are doing their best for our students.
Flexibility in planning will remain our focus due to the inability to predict what tomorrow, next week, or next month will look like. Our children need stability. We want to provide stability and consistency for our children during these changing times. Our strength lies in lifting each other up and uniting our efforts to do our best for our children.
As the first semester concludes, I would like to thank you for lending us your most precious possessions every day. The staff at Cassville R-IV School District appreciates your partnership as we work together to provide the best possible learning opportunities for your children. I am hopeful that each of you will have a safe and happy Christmas break and New Year. I look forward to seeing your students as they return on Tuesday, January 4.