Dear Families, 

Recently, we were notified of a small number of COVID-19 student cases in the District.  It is also important to mention that none of the cases were school related in regards to transmission.  As members of the school community, we understand that this might raise concerns, alongside a caring response. We are working closely with Lane County Public Health to respond to this news. 

Each situation calls for different protocols. In this case: 

1. The school was notified on  April 27, 2021 that a member of the school community had tested positive.

The following protocols were put in place:

1. The 4 students who tested positive are staying home from school.
2. Anyone who was in close contact with the person who tested positive, has been notified and they are self quarantining.                                                                                                                                            

 The School has been working with our District Health Nurse and Lane County Public Health to review classroom logs.  Anyone who was identified as having a close contact with the person who tested positive has been notified.  

The best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is through staying home when ill, wearing face coverings, physical distancing, and practicing good health hygiene habits. Be sure to wash your hands frequently with soap and water, cover your coughs and sneezes, and avoid contact with people who have signs of illness. Get plenty of rest, exercise, and eat a healthy diet. 

Protect the community by following the Governor’s safety requirements. Wearing cloth face coverings reduces the spread of viruses. 

We will keep you updated with any new information as it comes out, while meeting the requirements to honor everyone’s right to privacy. 

More information can be found on the Oregon Department of Education’s Ready Schools, Safe Learners page, and the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID-19. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our District nurse at tparsons@fernridge.k12.or.us

On Monday night, the FRSD School Board adopted the 2021-2022 Calendar presented to them by the FRSD Calendar Committee.  The link is on the right hand side of our webpage.  The direct link is here: 2021-2022 Calendar

Absent any significant increases in restrictions put out by ODE or OHA as a result of COVID-19, we fully expect to return to a normal school calendar in 21-22 with every student attending every day, and having early release Wednesdays.  While there almost certainly will be additional safety protocols and practices in place for some time, we are committed to doing whatever it takes to maintain a normal calendar.

This year has continued to be like no other. The planning, prepping, communication, and working with others has never been so important. We could not do this work without the amazing administrative professionals we have here in FRSD. The work they do day in and day out has a big impact in many workplaces but definitely here in FRSD. They make our offices more efficient and productive every single day. Much of the work they do is behind the scenes so we want to make sure that we take a moment to thank them for EVERYTHING that they do!

Thank you Michelle Cook (District Office)!

Thank you Dawn Northey (EES)!

Thank you Becky Walton & Shelby Humphrey(VES)!

Thank you Tammy Eutsler & Casey Anderson(FRMS)!

Thank you Lorie Hafner(EHS)!

Thank you Tammy Boren(Special Services)!

Lane County Public Health will be holding a vaccine clinic for people 16 to 17 years old.

Where: Lane Community College

When: April 24 and 25 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

What: 2,400 doses of Pfizer will be made available for those 16 to 17 years old.  Additional doses will be made available to the general public.

How: This clinic is by appointment only, please go to http://lanecounty.org/vaxclinics to schedule your vaccine appointment.

Important: All Lane County Public Health clinics are free.  You do not need insurance and will not be asked for any financial information

The new guidance around social distancing and changes to the Ready School Safe Learners guidance has taken some time to work through and problem solve.  Below is a description of our current plan/goals, along with some additional information on this topic.

All of our staff are in full agreement that the best thing for our students is to get them all into classrooms, everyday, all day.  Unfortunately, the social distancing restrictions in place regarding proximity to adults, passing in halls, cohorting, and maintaining 6 feet while eating meals have us approaching this slowly. We are doing our best to ensure that we DO NOT find ourselves having to backtrack due to a potential outbreak and return to hybrid learning or even Comprehensive Distance Learning.   If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact your building Principal.

Kinder and 1st Grade Students:  Beginning April 20th, all of these students will return to a 4 day a week model (Tuesday-Friday).

2nd – 5th Grade Students:  Beginning tomorrow, teachers will begin to identify 5 students per classroom that are MOST in need of additional in-person instruction.  The families of these students will be contacted (the goal is by the end of the day Monday, April 12th) to offer this opportunity.  It is not required.  If a particular family, based on their situation, does NOT want to return 4 days a week, that is fine.  In that case, we will just move down the list of students.  IF OUR RETURN OF K-1 GOES WELL, WE WILL BE REASSESSING IN A FEW WEEKS, AND LOOK TO BRING BACK ALL 2ND AND 3RD GRADERS FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

6th-8th Grade Students:  At FRMS, similar to grades 2-5, we will be expanding to bring in 15 more students per grade level 4 days a week (an additional 45 students).  FRMS staff will be reaching out to you before Monday the 20th to offer this opportunity to the parents of our students most in need of additional in-person instruction. If you or your student are not interested in this opportunity, just let us know when contacted.

9th-12th Grade Students:  At EHS, the model is exactly the same as at FRMS.  15 students per grade level (about 60) will be contacted about moving to a 4 day a week model.

What will it look like for 2nd – 12th grade students that return 4 days a week, but whose peers have not all returned to 4 days.  It will look different at each level, stay tuned for more detailed information that will be shared on their school website.  If you have specific additional questions, do not hesitate to contact the building principal.

Transportation:  We hope to get the names of returning  students to First Student by the end of the day Monday so that they can begin the work of adjusting route pick-up and drop-off times.  As soon as updates/changes are made, we will get this information out.

Food Service:  This plan will require adjustments in our food service plan.  There WILL be an opportunity at the K-8 level for single breakfasts to be picked up and taken home each day for any student that attends all 4 days of the week.

OPTIONS Program Students:  This change MAY have some of our K-1 OPTIONS families considering a return to their home school.  We would ask these parents to make this decision by Wednesday, April 14th.  By that date, please make the decision to either remain in OPTIONS for the remainder of the 2021 school year OR notify both the OPTIONS Program and the school that you would like to return 4 days a week.  A reminder, this is just for Kindergarten and 1st grade students for now.

FRSD Families,

As many of you are aware, over spring break, the State released new guidance that allows for a reduction to “3 Feet of Physical Distancing under Certain Conditions.”  Since that time, I have been in communication with building administrators, association leadership, and other partners to identify how this change could assist us in expanding our in-person instruction offerings.  Unfortunately, the 6 feet of physical distancing requirement remains in tact any time students are eating, passing in the hallways, and between staff and students at all times as well as between staff and staff at all times.

A final decision on when/how we can expand our in-person offerings, and I do expect us to expand, will be made soon.  As early as the next 24 hours and no later than the end of this week.  Any changes would begin the week of April 19th (start of 4th quarter) at the earliest.  Unfortunately the restrictions still in place will prevent us from bringing back all students every day.  Having said that, I am doing everything in my power to get more students in, each day, at all levels, K-12.  Stay tuned.

To further mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission in Oregon’s K-12 schools, The Oregon Health Authority is supporting COVID-19 testing in public and private K-12 schools.  Oregon schools offering partial or full in-person instruction may provide testing  for students and staff who display symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been exposed to COVID-19 in the school setting. The Federal Government has allocated Abbott BinaxNOW rapid point-of-care antigen tests to states to support COVID-19 testing. These tests are available to support testing if needed  in K-12 schools during the 2020-2021 school year.

The Fern Ridge School District now has these tests on site and will be using them as required.  Currently, they are ONLY required for contact sports (football) when as described above, a participant is exhibiting symptoms while ON-SITE!  Our District Nurse and EHS Athletic Trainer are our two trained school testing administrators.

Testing for students in grades K-12 will only occur (after March 1st), and IF, our schools are operating with in-person instruction while the County is outside of the recommended metrics (over 350/100,000 for elementary, or over 200/100,000 for grades 6-12).  An additional example of when using these tests MAY be possible would be when in conjunction with Lane County Public Health (LCPH), it is determined that a cohort is required to quarantine, and LCPH recommends using these tests to help shorten the length of quarantine for exposed individuals.  This can only be done at the direction of LCPH.

In order for any student to be tested, a “consent” form must be on file.  In preparation for potential testing that may occur, it is recommended you print the consent form and drop off at the school.  The forms are also available in every front office.  Below is a link to the consent form, as well as a COVID-19 Testing in Oregon’s Schools FAQ Document.  These documents will also both be located under the “2020 School Year” tab at the top, right of the District website.

COVID-19 School Testing Consent Form

COVID-19 School Testing FAQ

Again, at this time, FRSD will only be using the on-site tests as required.  Currently, this ONLY applies to our football players and the coaching staff.  We ask that families continue to support our schools, students, staff, and community by keeping their child home when they are exhibiting symptoms. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your school.

FRSD Students and Families of 6th-12th grade students:

Yesterday around 2:00 PM, updated infection rate data for Lane County was released.  It shows that we are below 200/100,000 for the first time in several months (at 194.5).  In addition, data for our specific zip codes here in Fern Ridge, has consistently been about 60-70% of the County rate and that remains consistent with the current rate within FRSD being 121/100,000.  To ensure we are using both current and accurate information, I spoke to the K-12 education liaison at Lane County Public Health yesterday and she confirmed that the number of infections in Lane County has consistently dropped over the last 10 days. She added that on this trajectory, at a minimum, we should expect the rate released next week to again be lower.  With that information in hand, we are ready to execute our plan to get more students back to in-person instruction.  Below are the details:

February 25th and 26th:  6th grade students will return to FRMS in a hybrid model.  Following the same model as our elementary schools, students will return on an A/B format.  Approximately half the students will attend all day on Tuesday/Thursday (A Day) with the other half attending on Wednesday/Friday (B Day).  The school day will be a full day, and students will leave each day with work for their “off-day”.  6th grade students will attend the 25th or the 26th and again on March 2nd or 3rd (based on being either A or B day).  This will allow all 6th graders to be introduced to the Middle School and oriented for the year.

March 2nd and 3rd:  9th graders only will attend EHS, without 10th-12th graders.  They also will be on an A/B schedule as described above.

March 4th and 5th:  The remaining grades (7th, 8th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders) will return on an A/B schedule, similar as described above.

Other important information:

1.  LIPI:  At FRMS, the last day for 2 hour LIPI will be this Friday, February 19th, to allow the rooms to be configured and teachers to prepare for this transition.  At EHS, the last day for LIPI will be Friday, February 26th.
2. BRIDGES and RESOURCE ROOM AT FRMS (Mrs. Gardner and Mr. Brummett):  Both of these programs will have slightly different schedules, the school/teacher will be communicating with individual families.  If you have questions, do not hesitate to reach out.
3. CHROMEBOOKS:  At FRMS, for now, students will keep their Chromebook at HOME, and not bring them back and forth.  At EHS, students WILL bring their Chromebook to school each day!
4. BUSSING:  We will post updated routes/times as soon as they are ready.  In the mean time, we need to gather information from those that WILL be riding the bus.  At FRMS, there will be a website post with information, and a google form to fill out.  For EHS, please call the school and share that you will, or will NOT be riding the bus.  Elementary students that ride the bus should pay attention to the new routes/times when they are posted, as the time they get picked up might be pushed back a couple minutes with the buses making more stops.  They should not change significantly.
5. A Day or B Day:  For FRMS students, this can be found in Home Access (after logging in, click on registration tab, look for “house/team” – this is near the top-left under demographic), students can ask a teacher, or families can call the office. For EHS this information can be found in Home Access, or on the EHS website in the coming days.  You can also call the school. FRMS 541-935-8230 or EHS 541-935-8200.
6. Lunchtime and Meals:  This will look different at each school (M.S. and H.S.)
   1. FRMS:  When students come for  “in-school” days, they will receive a hot sack-lunch from the cafeteria and then proceed to their designated eating area (or they can bring a lunch from home).  At the end of the day they will receive a take-home bag (for those that want it) with two breakfasts in it (one for their off day and one for their next in-person day).  For lunch on the off-days, students/families will have the ability to utilize the high school drive through for that day’s lunch service.
   2. EHS:  When students come for “in-school” days, before the start to the school day, they will have the opportunity to receive a sack breakfast from the high school kitchen to be eaten on-site in the cafeteria.  Only those eating breakfast will be allowed in the cafeteria at that time.  During their lunch period, students will be able to receive a hot sack-lunch in the cafeteria and then proceed to a designated eating area (or they can bring a lunch from home).  On their off-days they will also have access to the drive through site at EHS for that day’s lunch.   The EHS campus will be a CLOSED campus for all students to assist with cohorting of students.
   3. Families who do not want to participate in the on-site meals or the drive through meals, will be able to pick up a week worth of breakfasts and lunches from the H.S. drive through that occurs on Monday evenings from 5-6 PM.  A reminder that you cannot “double dip,” and can only participate in one or the other.
   4. As  mentioned earlier, the H.S. lunch drive through will continue to operate Monday-Friday for now.
   5. Finally, a reminder that through the end of the 20-21 school year, all school meals are FREE!
7. More Information-Community zooms: Zoom meetings to allow for Q and A sessions with Mr. Carpenter, FRSD Superintendent, as well as the building principals at FRMS and EHS have been scheduled.  See below for specific links and days/times:
   1. Superintendent Q and A with Mr. Carpenter: Thursday, February 18th, at 6:00 PM link here:  https://fernridge-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/88970897706
   2. FRMS Q and A with Ms. Johnson: Tuesday, February 23rd, at 6:00 PM link here:  https://fernridge-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/88330691646?pwd=UjZjRm5rYnlsRmhXUmlPakdxRFZEUT09
   3. EHS Q and A with Mr. Gardner: Thursday, February 25th, at 6:00 PM link here: https://fernridge-k12-or-us.zoom.us/j/84823255124?pwd=QTdCbWxEWFJrT2F0L2U0M3NqU2grZz09 

FRSD Community,

The District has finalized its return to in-person instruction plan.  It was reviewed last night at 6:00 PM in a Community Q and A with Superintendent Carpenter.  You can view playback of the meeting here.  In addition, at 6:00 PM this evening, each elementary school principal will be hosting a Q and A for all parents.  Links to those virtual zoom meetings can be found here:

Veneta Elementary Parent Q & A

Elmira Elementary Parent Q & A

To summarize, the District continues to use the Oregon Department of Education/Oregon Health Authority guidance and framework that was updated last week to guide our plans.  The research that informed the recent changes to the K-12 Metrics Framework can be viewed here.  The primary metric that determines when we can bring students back for in-person learning is the COVID-19 case count per 100,000 over the prior two weeks.  When the case count is under 350/100,000 we can bring back elementary-aged students.  When it drops below 200, we can consider bringing back grades 6 and above.  These two week “look-back” rates are released each Monday.

The rates for Lane County for the past 5 two-week periods have been:

12/13-12/26:  289

12/20-1/2:  250.7

12/27-19:  284

1/3-1/16:  292.7

1/10-1/23:  283.5

The last time the case rate in Lane County was below 200 (which would allow grades 6-12 to return) was in mid-November.  We are hopeful that with the rollout of the vaccine and continued adherence to health and safety protocols, the case rate will drop back down again soon, allowing us to expand our return to in-person instruction for our older students.

Below are the specifics of our plan for returning elementary students to in-person learning:

Thursday, February 4th and Friday, 5th:  All K-3 students return to in-person instruction in an A/B Hybrid Model, similar to what was done earlier this year.  Due to transportation changes, whether or not you are an A or B day student may have changed.  This will be communicated soon with our families. The school day will be from 7:55am-2:25pm. Teachers will communicate with families what the expectations are in regards to applied learning, or off days.

Thursday, February 11^th and Friday, 12^th: All 4^th and 5^th grade students return to in-person instruction in an A/B Model. Due to transportation changes, whether or not you are an A or B day student may have changed.  This will be communicated soon with our families. The school day will be from 7:55am-2:25pm. Teachers will communicate with families what the expectations are in regards to applied learning, or off days.

Thursday, February 4^th:  For students in grades K-5 that are a part of our SLC or Bridges classrooms, the opportunity to return all 4 days each week will be offered.  Please work with your student’s teacher and school principal if you have questions.

Returning all of our students in grades K-12 is our highest priority and we will be prepared to do that when the case rates drop.

Below is some additional general information on a wide range of topics around returning to in-person instruction that folks may be interested in:

HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS:  Each building has a “blueprint” that outlines all of the safety protocols that will be in place.  The list is too long to review here, but includes things like social distancing, wearing masks, cohort groups, hand-washing, limiting movement in the building, entry screenings upon arrival, dedicated entrances and much more.  The blueprints, once finalized, will be updated on our District website.

TRANSPORTATION:  Transportation is one of the larger logistical issues to solve.  Please be patient as we work through this.  Anyone that has the ability to transport their student, please know that is greatly appreciated. The goal is to have the routes and times up by early next week.

MEALS IN SCHOOL:  Meals will look different.  Breakfast will not be served at school but sent home so that students are able to eat prior to coming to school.  Lunches for off days will also be sent home.  Students will have an opportunity for a normal school lunch, on days they are in session.

VACCINATION:  FRSD staff have begun to receive vaccinations.  We are on-track to have about 20% of staff receive the first vaccination by this weekend.  The vast majority of those staff are at the elementary level.

I DO NOT WANT TO RETURN, OR CANNOT RETURN DUE TO MEDICAL ISSUES: We have begun collecting information from families who do not want or cannot have their student return to in-person learning.  Please inform your teacher and or building principal ASAP if you are in this situation.  While enrolling in our online OPTIONS program is one choice a parent can make, we will also have a CDL (Comprehensive Distance Learning) option for these students.  What it looks like exactly will, in part, be determined by how many students need to access this option.  It may take a few weeks to get up to full-speed as we are waiting on some technology to assist with this that was ordered back in December.  However, we are hopeful that it will include some packet work, as well as some live interactive connection with a teacher and a classroom each day (it might not be through their regular classroom teacher).  More information on this in the coming days.

Thank you for your continued patience as we begin to roll this plan out next week.  We all look forward to seeing our students in our buildings!–Gary Carpenter, Superintendent, FRSD 28J