February 12, 2021

In his weekly message to families, superintendent Mark Lane shared the following: “February 3, 2020, our country declared a national public health emergency because of COVID-19. I never could have imagined what the next year would bring. Yesterday was an important day for our staff. We are grateful to Winneshiek County Public Health and the volunteers who facilitated our vaccination clinic.”

“I am grateful for the support of our parents and community as well. I know our vaccination day created challenges for families. In the past year, we have faced many decisions where every option is undesirable. In each case, we have tried to return to the priorities of our Return to Learn Plan to guide our decision-making.”

“Our Priorities:

• Student learning and well-being
• Staff capacity to carry out the work
• Equity across all student groups
• Developmentally appropriate, quality student opportunities
• Feasibility of deployment”

The District will review with public health the process used Thursday for the vaccination clinic and will discuss opportunities for improvement for the second round of vaccinations.

Decorah Community School District is committed to providing transparent, accurate data regarding cases of isolation and/or quarantining related to COVID-19 while maintaining the confidentiality of students and staff. On September 18, the Iowa Department of Public Health and Iowa Department of Education released guidance to school districts and local public health agencies detailing communication of COVID-19 related data.

The Iowa Department of Public Health guidance can be found here.

Summary Positive COVID-19 

• Of approximately 290 Staff – Twenty-nine (29) positive COVID-19, Twenty-seven (27) recovered
• Of approximately 1575 On-site students – Ninety-one (91) positive COVID-19, Eighty-nine (89) recovered

County and District Trend Data

The graphs below reflect county and district data taken each Tuesday and Thursday since school began.

Lane ended his message to families this way: “Over the past few weeks, I have addressed legislative issues impacting education in our state. Given that Monday is President’s Day, today I will simply share words George Washington spoke to the U.S. Congress in 1796: ‘A primary object of such a National Institution should be, the education of our Youth in the science of Government. In a Republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? and what duty, more pressing on its Legislature, than to patronize a plan for communicating it to those, who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the Country?’

We are grateful for the opportunity to work with the young people of our community.”