• Weekly Update

    Welcome to the Weekly Update.  In an effort to increase transparency and clear communication this page will be updated with a brief summary of the Superintendent's work and discussions.

     

    August 13, 2021

    Greetings Ferguson-Florissant Family,

    Welcome back! I am excited to welcome each and every student back into our classrooms when school begins on Monday, Aug. 23. Last year was a year unlike any other, but the strength of our students, families, staff, and community helped us finish the year stronger than ever before. In preparation for the 2021-2022 school year, the District Reentry Task Force made preparations to ensure our classrooms are as safe as possible to provide five (5) day in-person instruction.

    We have been monitoring transmission in our community. We will continue to review our protocols based on updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), St. Louis County Department of Public Health, and Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. There are still many health and safety protocols we need to follow to keep our students and staff healthy and in school. We will start the school year with the following mitigation measures in place for the support of in-person learning:

    • Universal masks: Masks are required indoors and on buses for all students (ages 2 +) and staff until further notice. Wearing masks will ensure we can keep the largest number of students in the classroom for in-person instruction while maintaining a safe environment for students and staff. This is based on recommendations from the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and St. Louis County Department of Public Health.

    • Employee vaccination requirement: All Ferguson-Florissant School District employees will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Any employee who is not vaccinated will be required to test for COVID-19 weekly.

    • Physical distancing: Social distancing will be implemented to the greatest extent possible of three (3) feet in classrooms and learning spaces.

    • Continue successful mitigation strategies: We will continue to encourage good handwashing hygiene practices and emphasize the importance of students and staff to self-monitor their health through daily screenings and stay home if they develop symptoms.

    • Quarantines: We will follow St. Louis County Department of Public Health’s guidelines on isolation for positive cases and quarantining of close contacts. Additionally, following new guidance from the CDC, asymptomatic, fully vaccinated individuals will not be required to quarantine if deemed a close contact.

    • Contact tracing and vaccine records: In an effort to assist with contact tracing, we are asking parents/guardians to inform us if their child has been vaccinated. We are also asking the same of District staff. This is voluntary for students, but it will help with the contact tracing process and may reduce the need for quarantine or modified quarantine even if an individual comes into direct contact with a positive exposure. More information will be coming soon with instructions on how to notify the District that your child has been vaccinated. 

    Ferguson-Florissant School District’s full Return to In-Person Instruction & Continuity of Services Plan is available on the District website. It provides thorough details about the procedures and mitigation requirements that have been created for the health and safety of students, staff, and our school community for the upcoming school year.

    We will continue to monitor transmission in our community and review updated guidance from local and state health officials.

    Thank you for your resilience and understanding as we have navigated this pandemic together. Even during these uncertain times, rest assured that our focus will always remain on doing what is best for our students, staff, and school community.

    Onward Together,

    Dr. Joseph Davis

    Superintendent

     

    May 15, 2021

    Greetings Ferguson-Florissant Family,

     I’m writing with an update on the Ferguson-Florissant School District’s expectations regarding masks in light of the recent news announcement from the CDC.

    We have hosted vaccination clinics for our staff and students 16 years of age and older, and we are finalizing plans to offer vaccinations to our 12-15 year old students.  Even with these efforts,  the majority of our students have not been vaccinated.

    The St. Louis County Department of Public Health has issued a “Health Advisory that continues to strongly recommend masking in all public spaces where vaccinated and unvaccinated members of the public are likely to be together, especially for long periods of time.  While we may have removed the force of mandate, DPH adamantly recommends masking in schools for the health and safety of all."

    In addition the CDC “released a statement advising schools to — at least for the rest of the current school term — maintain the usual COVID-19 prevention strategies long recommended for in-person instruction during the pandemic, including masking and physical distancing.”

     Students won't be fully vaccinated by the end of the current school year, the CDC explained as part of the agency's reasoning in its Saturday statement — with adolescents ages 12 to 15 only newly eligible to get Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine, and younger children are still ineligible.

    Following our commitment to safety first and based on this information, students and staff in Ferguson-Florissant School District will continue to be required to wear masks while in schools and District buildings, on buses, and at District events.

    Parents, we need your help. Please remind your children to properly wear their masks covering their nose and mouth for their own safety as well as the safety of others around them.  If we follow these guidelines, we will have a safe conclusion to the school year.

    Onward Together,


    Dr. Davis

    Superintendent

     

      

    January 11, 2021

    Administration and teachers met to discuss possible remedies for the increased number of low grades in virtual learning.  A survey was distributed to all secondary teachers to get their feedback on some possible short-term remedies.  Discussions will continue regarding adjustments for the future.

    Administration is closely monitoring COVID conditions and eagerly awaiting vaccine distribution.  The COVID numbers for zip codes in FFSD are still very high.  You can see more information at www.fergflor.org/coviddashboard.  Dates for educators to receive the vaccine are still unknown at this time.

    The strategic planning process is underway.  We've updated the website to make the information easily accessible with a Strategic Planning link on the home page or directly at www.fergflor.org/strong.