Weekly Superintendent Update, Jan. 28

Weekly Superintendent Update, Jan. 28
Posted on 01/28/2022
Dr. Sirko photo

My favorite way to start off these letters is with a celebration of our students, so I will lead with a shout out to our All State Orchestra students, who will be traveling to Ft. Collins next week for the All State Orchestra festival. Congratulations to Cody Bailey of Fruita Monument High School and Brynne Berry, Nicholas Berry, and Thomas Berry, all of Grand Junction High School! We want to wish all of the Winter sports teams continued success as welle4zw4xn . We are about a month away from playoffs and can’t wait to celebrate your success here also. 


COVID-19 Update

As you are aware, Mesa County is experiencing several cases of COVID-19. Our schools are a reflection of the community at large. As of today, 25 of our schools have a student positivity rate at or above 2%, or had a positivity rate at or above 2% within the last 10 days. In accordance with Keeping Schools Open Plan protocols, these schools are in universal masking for a minimum of 10 calendar days, and their positivity rate must be below 1% for five consecutive days before universal masking is lifted for those schools.


The Keeping Schools Open Plan protocols are designed to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools. Our COVID-19 caseload in District 51 is trending downward, and our goal remains to scale back protocols starting Feb. 7. However, as discussed over the past month, we will have to meet the three criteria as a community:
1)
One-week average positivity rate below 5%
2)
One week cumulative incidence rate below 100
3)
No more than 1 new hospitalization per day, with a seven day trailing average

D51 School Board members and I will meet with Mesa County Public Health on Feb. 1 to see how close we are to meeting these benchmarks, and we should have an update for you soon afterwards.


Administrative Services Complex Masking
Unlike schools, the Administrative Services Complex has not required masks for visitors up until this point in 2021-22 because the building has no students present. However, due to a high volume of COVID-19 cases in the building, all visitors to the Administrative Services Complex must wear a mask through at least next Friday, Jan. 28. KN-95 masks are recommended for your protection, and staff are highly encouraged to wear them as well. Individual departments may require masks for ASC employees based on cases within that department and whether offices/cubicles allow for spacing or require employees to be in close contact with each other or visitors.  


Bond Committee Selection

Thank you again to all 13 community members who applied for a chance to serve on the Bond Executive Committee to assist in oversight of the construction of the new Grand Junction High School. Existing members of the committee voted earlier this week to select four new members from among the applicants. Congratulations to the four new members: Kelly Maves, Danny Medved, Tom Parrish, and Justin Whiteford!