We want to keep the community informed about how the Omicron variant is affecting your schools. Despite the extremely contagious nature of the Omicron variant of COVID, your Woodland Public Schools will remain open with in-person learning as long as we have available staff to serve them and students and staff can be kept safe and healthy.
Since returning from winter break we have seen a significant rise in absenteeism among both students and staff, with many staff members having to stay home due to having contracted COVID. The rates of absenteeism appear to be dropping in recent days, but if the rate of staff absenteeism rises again to high levels we may have to change schedules or close schools temporarily due to lack of staffing.
Newly reported cases of COVID among staff and students have largely been identified as being contracted at gatherings outside of school and through athletics. Our on-campus layered mitigation practices which include mask-wearing, increased ventilation, physical distancing, and regular sanitization have proven effective in reducing the spread of COVID at school. In spite of this, infection rates remain very high.
In the event that we must change school schedules or close schools, we will inform families and in advance as much as possible to accommodate planning for childcare options.
We continue to encourage all community members to take the necessary steps to help prevent the spread of COVID by wearing masks when in public and not holding social gatherings at least while the Omicron variant works through our region. Together, we will beat this pandemic once and for all.
For more information, visit our dedicated COVID website which is updated daily: www.woodlandschools.org/covid-hq
Woodland Public Schools