Bend-La Pine Schools on Friday notified families of its new policies in light of changes to the state’s rules for masks.
Students and staff will be required to wear masks indoors during the instructional day regardless of vaccination status.
But masks will not be required for students or staff for outdoor recess or PE classes.
Spectators also will not be required to wear masks at outdoor sporting events or the upcoming graduations.
The district’s new guidelines are below:
OUTDOOR REQUIREMENTS
The Oregon Department of Education has announced an update to the Ready Schools, Safe Learners requirements. Masks will NOT be required outside for students, staff, or spectators, including recess, PE, sporting events, or our outdoor graduations, for example. Physical distancing requirements are still in effect.
INDOOR REQUIREMENTS
After-School Athletics, Activities, and Events
Athletes, coaches, officials, participants and spectators who have been fully vaccinated will NOT be required to wear masks. These individuals will need to show proof of vaccination status.
School-Day PE, Recess, and Activities
The Ready Schools, Safe Learners requirement for masking indoors is unchanged: regardless of vaccination status, everyone in schools during the instructional day is still required to wear a mask.
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR
We know already that masks will not be required outdoors. We are hopeful that the Ready Schools, Safe Learners guidance will not require masking indoors, as well. This will depend on low numbers of individuals testing positive for COVID-19, which will depend most of all on large numbers of eligible individuals getting vaccinated.
The regional High School COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics program has expanded eligibility to provide vaccines for those age 12 and older at new and existing sites, thanks to a partnership with pediatric medical providers and new authorization of the vaccine for those 12 and up. You and/or your student can walk-in to any of our upcoming events in the region.
