August 19, 2021

Dear Cleveland City Schools Students, Families, and Staff:

COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the Cleveland and Bradley County area as they do across our
state. Our schools are not immune to this and when there is a rise in the community, our schools will
reflect that uptick as well. Indeed, we are seeing a rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases at this time, but we
continue to see a large number of cases that present symptoms like COVID-19, but end up being another
virus or illness after medical testing is performed.

Our goal is to keep all schools, classrooms, buses, cafeterias, etc. open while at the same time using as
many mitigation measures as feasible to keep our students and staff safe. However, just as with
churches, malls, theaters, etc. where people congregate, there is no way we can say with certainty that
we can keep our students and staff 100% safe from this or any other type of virus or illness.

As of publication of this update, there are 48 confirmed active COVID-19 cases related to our
schools. While we have been waiting for the state to roll out its new COVID-19 dashboard, the timeframe
for that rollout has yet to be announced. Therefore, CCS will publish our new COVID-19 dashboard on
Monday, August 23. This dashboard will be updated each Monday and a link will be provided on our
website. This dashboard will list each school’s confirmed active COVID-19 rate for staff and students for
the prior week. The dashboard will be updated at 10 am each Monday morning.

Last year, our plan included additional steps, up to and including building closures, when our community
reached the 1% COVID-19 infection rate. However, due to state legislative changes, remote learning in
that format is no longer allowed. If the district must close our buildings due to illness, inclement weather
days must be utilized and remote learning is not an available option. Furthermore, mandating masks for
all is also no longer allowed under Governor Lee’s executive order issued earlier this week. Please note
that remote learning is available for those ill with COVID-19 or quarantined and at home.

Beginning on Monday, August 23, CCS will implement additional mitigation strategies including a by
school, tiered approach as outlined below. Under this new strategy, our COVID task force will look at
three criteria on a daily basis. As of today, Thursday, August 19, Cleveland City Schools is operating
under Tier 1 mitigation strategies. This includes all current strategies being used such as disinfecting
classrooms, encouraging masks, sanitization stations, etc. However, if at least two of the three criteria
below are met at a specific school, an additional approach to add additional mitigation efforts will take
place. The criteria includes the following:

1. Are 10% or more of all students at a specific school absent?

2. Does 1% of the student enrollment at a specific school have a confirmed active COVID-19 case?
3. Do we have confirmed linked cases in a specific school?
If at least two of the three criteria are yes, then the following Tier 2 mitigation measures will be added to
our current mitigation plan at that specific school for a two week period (these strategies will end after two
weeks unless renewed by our COVID task force).

All Tier 1 mitigation measures apply, plus the following:

1. Non-academic visitors will not be allowed in our buildings during the school day.
2. We will increase hand washing and sanitizing efforts.
3. We will close water fountains except for water bottle fillers.
4. We will minimize large group gatherings to the greatest extent possible during the school day.
5. We will suspend field trips.

If the COVID task force notices after the two week period that the criteria for Tier 2 continues, the specific
school would then move to add Tier 3 strategies for a two week period. Those include the following:

All Tier 1 and 2 mitigation measures apply, plus the following:

1. One way hallways will be implemented.
2. Temperature checks will be implemented by the school nurse and others, as needed.
3. Cohorting of students in classrooms, while dining in the cafeteria, and while at recess would
occur as feasible.

COVID-19 Mitigation Tiers Flow Chart

As a reminder, we continue to strongly encourage all Tier 1 mitigation efforts such as encouraging
all students and staff to wear a mask in all schools. We also continue to encourage hand washing
and distancing when feasible. Our operations team is also doing a great job of ensuring our schools and
buses are cleaned and sanitized at least once per day, including our classrooms which are disinfected
daily. Vaccination for those 12 and over is also available and you’re encouraged to speak with your
family physician regarding those options.

Please help us by checking your child’s temperature each morning before they head to school and taking
any symptoms related to COVID-19 seriously. Thank you for doing your part to help us have a successful
school year and those efforts will make a difference. Be sure to check out TDOH education resources
page to learn more about contact tracing and other pertinent information from the state.

Sincerely,

Russell Dyer, Ed.D.