Superintendent's Newsletter - April 7, 2021
Dear Salt Lake City School District community,
I hope you had a restful spring recess and have had a great first week back. You may be aware that the Utah Legislature passed a bill in March which says the state can no longer require masks in most public places after April 10. I want to remind our community that this bill does not apply to public schools. The mask requirement will stay in place for K-12 schools until at least June 15. I want to thank you in advance for helping us make sure that our students and staff stay safe by continuing to wear masks in schools even after the state mandate is lifted this weekend.
Based on information from the Utah Department of Health, public health officials asked the Legislature (and the Legislature agreed) to keep a mask requirement in place for the following reasons:
- No vaccine is currently authorized for anyone younger than 16.
- Not every adult in the school setting has been vaccinated.
- Children can get sick from COVID and have long-term effects.
- Children can get COVID, not feel sick, and transmit the illness to people at home who aren’t vaccinated yet.
Under the current public health order for schools, all employees, students, and visitors are required to wear masks on school property, on a school bus, and in school buildings until at least June 15. Local officials, including our Board of Education, do NOT have the legal authority to end the mask requirement in schools before this date.
We feel fortunate that due to faithful mask-wearing, social distancing when possible, strict disinfecting and cleaning protocols, and the following of other safety measures, our COVID-19 case counts have decreased significantly in Salt Lake City and have been minimal in our schools. (You can see the latest COVID-19 numbers in all our schools on the COVID-19 Dashboard on the district website.) Thank you for all you’ve done to help make sure our students and staff stay safe and to make sure we can continue to offer in-person learning options for those who want them.
Extended Learning Program Application Deadline
Is your child a rapid learner who puts thoughts together quickly? Does your child have an excellent memory or an unusually large vocabulary? If so, the district’s Extended Learning Program may be a good fit for your child. The Extended Learning Program provides academic services for identified gifted and high-ability students who are found eligible for services through an assessment process.
To participate in the Extended Learning Program, your student must apply and be tested. Students who are currently in grades 1-7 and are interested in participating in our Magnet Extended Learning Program for the 2021-22 school year must fill out and turn in an application by April 30, 2021. Testing will take place May 17-June 11, 2021.
The online application and more information about the program can be found on our website.
Upcoming Events
- April 8, 2021 – Food for Families distribution at the Liberty Community Learning Center
Parents - Salt Lake City School District (slcschools.org) - April 14, 2021 – Food for Families distribution at the Rose Park Community Learning Center
Parents - Salt Lake City School District (slcschools.org) - April 15, 2021 – Food for Families distribution at the Glendale Community Learning Center
Parents - Salt Lake City School District (slcschools.org) - April 22, 2021 – Food for Families distribution at the Liberty Community Learning Center
Parents - Salt Lake City School District (slcschools.org)
Sincerely,
Larry Madden
Interim Superintendent
Salt Lake City School District