2021-2022 School Year Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Parents/guardians should self-screen their child daily for symptoms of illness before sending them to school. If a student has any of the following symptoms listed on the Daily Illness Self-Screening Checklist, or COVID-19 exposure outside of school, the student should stay home and the parent/guardian should report the absence and symptoms to the school, and contact their healthcare provider as necessary.

Can I send my child to school today?

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Ask the questions in the 3 red boxes EVERY MORNING, then follow the arrows based on your answer.

Yes, according to the State of Oregon administrative rule:    (see the full rule here) 

(3) Schools must ensure that all individuals, including but not limited to staff, students, contractors and visitors wear a mask, except as provided in sections (4) and (5) of this rule, when in an indoor setting:  

(a) At school during regular school hours; 

(b) Engaged in educational activities such as field trips or off-campus classes during regular school hours; and 

(c) At school engaged in educational activities outside of regular school hours. 

(4) A face shield may be worn instead of a mask if an individual cannot wear a mask for medical reasons. 

(5) An individual is not required to wear a mask under section (3) of this rule if the individual is: 

(a) Actively eating or drinking. 

(b) Sleeping. 

(c) Playing a musical instrument that requires using the mouth. 

(d) Engaged in a sport during physical education class such as swimming, other water sports, or a sport where wearing a mask could be a strangulation hazard such as gymnastics or wrestling. 

(e) Is in a private individual workspace. 

(f) Is under five years of age; unless an individual is using public transportation including school buses in which case an individual under two years of age is not required to wear a mask. 

(g) Is practicing or playing a competitive extracurricular sport at any level. 

PLEASE NOTE:  According to the Ready School Safe Learners Resiliency Framework, students, staff, and visitors are required to wear a face covering/mask while in school buildings.  If a student comes to school without a face covering/mask, they will be given one and required to wear it to adhere to the following: "Schools cannot serve a student in-person if they or their family choose not to wear a face covering. Schools may offer a remote or online school option for the student."  If you need more information regarding remote options available in Oregon, please contact your school administrator.

Under the current Ready Schools, Safe Learner Resiliency Framework, face coverings/masks are required outdoors for students while at recess unless students are generally able to maintain at least six feet of distance from other individuals.

Every school has been equipped with approved face coverings/masks and will hand one to each student not wearing an approved face covering to apply prior to entry into the building.  If a student loses or soils their mask during the day, they will also be supplied with a new mask.

We understand students may feel the need to get a break from wearing their face covering/mask during the school day.  Students will be allowed to remove their masks while eating during breakfast, lunch, or snacks and while outside.  If a student needs a break from their face covering/mask while in class, they can ask their teacher for a break.  Staff are able to take students out for short breaks as needed throughout the day, to the extent possible.

All students are required to wear a face covering/mask while indoors when transitioning between spaces. 

For example: 

When a student is transitioning from the classroom to eat breakfast or lunch, they should wear their face coverings all the way through to seating to eat their meal and then replace their face covering/mask after eating and before moving from their table. 

Yes, we will be asking students to keep social distance from others.  Students and staff should maintain at least three feet of distance while indoors, to the extent possible.  We will be asking students to look around and spread out if they find themselves too close to others! 

How, where, and when students will eat lunch is unique to each school building, while all schools will follow the safety guidelines in the Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework.  Each school has unique layouts and available spaces for students to eat breakfast or lunch.  Students may be eating in normally designated spaces such as cafeterias, while some students may be eating in the classroom, in outside spaces, gymnasiums, or other areas to help offer space to students throughout the buildings or campus.  Please contact your school for more specific information. 

Stopping the spread of COVID-19 requires a layered safety approach in which we rely on multiple safety measures to decrease potential exposure to COVID-19 and other viruses.  Reynolds School District schools are following these safety measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in schools:

• Asking all parents and guardians to screen their students for symptoms every day before coming to school.  
• Requiring all staff to self-screen for symptoms daily before or immediately upon arriving at work.
• Following all Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework guidance.
• Requiring face coverings/masks while indoors for students, staff, and partner organization staff.
• Maintaining that school buildings continue to be closed to the public, to the extent possible, and not allowing visitors or volunteers at this time.
• Adhering to three-foot social distancing, to the extent possible.
• Encouraging increased hand washing and hand sanitization.
• Regular cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces.
• Increased indoor air quality measures such as airflow, ventilation, and filtration.
• Utilizing outdoor spaces to the extent possible.
• Encouraging and providing information on COVID-19 vaccination for eligible students, families, and community members.
• Following state rule, requiring all teachers, school staff, partner staff, and volunteers to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination or exemption documentation by October18, 2021.

Reynolds School District has implemented several air quality and ventilation safety measures:

• All ventilation systems have been inspected.
• HVAC and ventilation systems are serviced and cleaned regularly. 
• Ventilation (air flow) has been increased throughout buildings. 
• MERV11 or higher filters are filtering air in buildings from 6am to 6pm daily.  You can find more information regarding MERV filters here. 
• Click here to see more information on specific buildings in the district.

It is strongly encouraged that students use their own supplies.

In order to limit possible transmission of viruses, please only bring necessary items for learning to school.  This could include a water bottle, an extra face covering/mask, and personal school supplies.  We strongly discourage bringing any soft items such as stuffed animals, blankets, or pillows unless advised to do so by the school.

Following current CDC guidelines, schools are limiting nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations as much as possible.  Currently, only students, staff, and partner organization staff are allowed into schools daily. As we get closer to the start of the school year, there are limited in-person family engagement events planned at schools, and schools will be communicating safety guidelines to follow for any event. 

The CDC is currently recommending schools to limit all nonessential visitors, volunteers, and activities involving external groups or organizations at this time.  We look forward to offering volunteer opportunities in the future. 

Reynolds School District will continue to follow all guidance in the Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework, our own Comprehensive Communicable Disease Management Plan, and protocols established by our local public health authority in the event there is a positive COVID-19 exposure at school. 

In the event there is an exposure at school that would require one or more students or staff to quarantine or isolate, the following occurs:

• The district and school receive recommendation from the health authorities regarding possible quarantine for any exposed students or staff.
• Quarantine or isolation instructions are communicated to any affected students or staff.
• The general school community is notified of an exposure with general safety tips and things to look for and do to stay healthy.    

This same process has been used to successfully notify students, families, and staff of any exposure events throughout the 2020-2021 school year.  Any updates to this process will be in collaboration with our local public health authority.  

For more information, please visit our COVID-19 Dashboard.

1. In the case of a confirmed exposure at school, county health officials work with the principal and District Office staff to determine who, if any, should be asked to quarantine or isolate.  
2. Any affected students or staff who are requested to quarantine or isolate will be notified by the school via phone and letter with further instructions.  
3. Once affected students and staff have been notified, the school community will receive a community-wide email notification of an exposure at school with general information.  

Asynchronous Learning 

As we know, there is a possibility that some students may need to quarantine or isolate this school year. If a student needs to quarantine or isolate, they will continue to receive instruction through remote learning. Attendance will be required for students in all instruction models. 

Students needing to engage in remote learning will receive instructions directly from their school on how to access learning resources. 

Asynchronous Learning while in isolation/quarantine:  

When students are in isolation/quarantine digital or print resources are available. Teachers may use digital and/or print resources when fulfilling homework requests for absent/quarantined students.  

Emergency Short-Term Distance Learning:  

A temporary instance when an entire class, grade level, cohort, school, or district shifts to distance learning. Learning emulates in-person learning to the extent possible, with all students learning offsite. Most commonly, learning will occur online and include an intentional balance of synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities.  

Click HERE to view the Short-Term Distance Learning Guidebook.

School kitchens will serve quarantined students daily, Tuesday–Friday (Nutrition is unable to provide meals on Mondays due to the late start schedule). Each school has determined a separate service time based on their respective schedules and needs. Breakfast and lunch will both be served at this time. 

Parents must provide their child's name, student ID#, school, and grade.  Meals are only available to quarantined students currently enrolled in school who have been identified as eligible by their child's school.  Meals will not be available for siblings unless they are also in quarantine from a Reynolds school.

Click HERE to view the full list of mealtimes by school.

The safety of our students and staff is the district’s highest priority.  In the event the state or local public health authority mandates that schools should transition to Comprehensive Distance Learning, we are ready to make that transition.  We will continue to keep families informed of any change to your student’s learning. 

At Reynolds School District, we understand that parents my feel cautious in their student returning to in-person learning again.  All school-age children are required to attend school, and we are confident we can support your student with safe, in-person learning. 

We are doing everything possible to ensure safety for every student and staff member.  This includes all students, staff, and visitors required to wear appropriate face coverings while in schools and while on bus transportation.  We will also maintain the recommended three-foot distancing rule to the extent possible according to the Ready Schools, Safe Learners Resiliency Framework, and will maintain all current cleaning, disinfecting, and air quality measures to reduce the possible spread of viruses.   

Please contact your school's principal if you have any further questions regarding safety or other options.