COVID-19 Related Information

Important COVID-19 Information - Please Read! - Updated 02/25/2022

Change in Mask Policy on Buses and Vans - 02/25/2022
Test to Stay Program Information - 01/14/2022
Updated Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines - 01/04/2022

Important Information Regarding Masks in School - 02/14/2022

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Wallenpaupack Area School Board held its February School Board meeting earlier this evening. The Health and Safety Plan was reviewed and approved, with the following updates/changes:

Beginning Tuesday, February 15, 2022, masking will be optional for all individuals, at all community transmission levels. Masks are strongly encouraged to be worn by building occupants, while the community transmission levels within Wayne or Pike Counties are high/substantial.
The federal mask mandate on all transportation is still in effect, per the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) through March 18, 2022. In addition, Head Start Programs (Hawley Center and South Elementary) must continue to wear masks per the federal masking mandate.
Targeted tiered mitigation measures may be temporarily implemented, by the Superintendent, such as masking or school/classroom closure.

Much has changed since the Health and Safety Plan was approved back in August 2021. First, vaccines have been made available for all school-aged children, along with staff. Wallenpaupack has hosted vaccine/booster clinics to ensure accessibility to the vaccine. Next, positive Covid cases have been on a decline- in our schools, county, and state. Finally, we have an effective program which ensures that ill individuals stay home, and healthy individuals remain in school. Test2stay has been fully implemented with success and remains our best option to mitigate the spread of Covid 19 within our schools. I believe it is important that as we begin to loosen our mitigation efforts and return to a sense of normalcy, that we do so slowly, intentionally, and safely.

Although changes have been made to the Health and Safety Plan, Covid circumstances will be monitored closely. Contact tracing and Test2stay will continue, and we will report our Covid cases to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Daily Covid case counts will cease (letters); however, total Covid-positive case counts per building will be reported at each school board meeting. Our goal remains to keep our schools open and safe.

Sincerely,

Keith E. Gunuskey
Superintendent