The following letter was sent out to Crane families by mass email on February 1, 2021.
Dear Crane Families,
During a special work session this evening, the Crane Governing Board decided that it was in our learning community’s best interest to reinstate in-person learning at all Crane schools on Monday, February 8, 2021. Since the beginning of the pandemic, our district has committed to offering multiple learning options because we recognize that each family has individual needs and circumstances. Therefore, for the the duration of this school year, we will continue to accommodate families who would like their child(ren) to continue with remote learning. If you intend to continue remote learning, please inform your school administration of your choice.
This decision to return to in-person learning was reached after careful consideration of various factors:
- All Crane district employees have been provided with the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine which is reported to have a high percentage of efficacy in protecting against COVID-19.
- The district has invested in a clean air technology program to modify ventilation systems in all schools and district facilities to increase the circulation of outside air intake. The program implements ionization technology to disinfect air as it passes through ventilation in heavy traffic areas.
- The COVID-19 Investigative Team has utilized the access to staff COVID-19 rapid testing to streamline their investigative and mitigation process so that they’re able to quickly assess possible transmission of COVID-19 at any site and act accordingly.
We know that our students thrive and flourish when they’re provided the opportunity to learn at school, among peers and mentors. We are doing everything in our power to ensure that our students have safe campuses and conditions in which to learn. We will continue our mitigation protocols detailed in our Crane Mitigation Plan. It is available in English and Spanish and updated on a regular basis.
PLEASE NOTE: As part of our mitigation strategies, our students will still be required to wear masks. The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention recommends that everyone continue to wear masks and follow social distancing rules EVEN if a person has received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. By following these easy mitigation protocols, students and staff members are taking the initiative to not only keep themselves safe but also safeguard their peers’ wellbeing. By working together to continue the established strategies, we are better equipped to manage the situation and keep our students in the classroom.
As always, we continue to review site, county, and state data and will make decisions that benefit our entire learning community, with consideration for our bigger Yuma community. We know this has been quite a trying time, but the arrival of vaccines is at least a step in the right direction to get back to “normal”.
Sincerely,
Laurie Doering, Superintendent