Dear Canby Families:
I hope you are enjoying your summer break and finding ways to keep cool. As we plan for the new school year, there is some important information I need to share with you.
Earlier this month, I shared an Operational Framework with you regarding the COVID-19 health and safety precautions we would have in place in our schools. In this framework, we announced face coverings would be optional. Today, Oregon Governor Kate Brown directed all K-12 schools in the state to implement universal face coverings for the upcoming school year. This directive changes our ability to have local control over face coverings in our schools. That means, regardless of vaccination status, all students, staff, and visitors will be required to wear a face covering in all of our facilities.
We do not know how long this requirement will last. We expect to receive additional information from the Oregon Department of Education. As this announcement just came today, we do not yet know what this will mean for athletics, activities, or other school events. We do know, under federal law, that face coverings are still required on all school buses.
We commit to staying closely connected as we receive new information about this directive. We will provide timely updates for families and our community as we learn more. School begins on August 30, 2021.
Thank you for your cooperation as we follow the directives we are given. We look forward to seeing all of our students at the end of August.
Dr. Aaron Downs
Superintendent
Canby School District
