Superintendent Update 8/5/2021

Dear North Smithfield Families and Staff, 

School Chairman Lombardi and I would like to give you an update on the Fall reopening plans. 

At this point, masking and COVID vaccinations are a family decision. To mitigate quarantining and help keep our schools open, we hope that families will consider vaccinating themselves and eligible children. 

​The Governor's office and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) have published a new set of COVID guidelines for safe school operation. With these guidelines, RIDOH and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) are encouraging school districts to develop policies and protocols for the school opening in the Fall. 

At the July 20th School Committee Meeting, the School Committee mask policy was adopted for the first reading. This policy was prepared by our attorney and is consistent with what most Northern RI Districts are doing. 

The policy aligns with the masking requirements under the law. 

• Masking is highly recommended. 
• Masking is required while riding the school bus as part of a federal public transportation order. 
• There is currently no Executive Order mandating the use of masks in schools. While wearing masks continues to be highly recommended, it is not a state mandate, even among unvaccinated individuals. 
• The district will follow state laws and RIDOH recommendations in developing appropriate protocols. 

During the coming weeks, we will have more information from the RIDOH regarding COVID, the Delta Variant, and school guidance. North Smithfield is and will be working with RIDE, RIDOH, and districts across the region to develop protocols. 

Until more information becomes available, we can share a few items to keep in mind for the coming school year.

• We intend to be open in full, 5 days a week. 
• We will not be offering a North Smithfield full-time distance learning option. Our entire focus is to have all students back in the classroom for full in-person instruction. 
• There will undoubtedly be positive COVID cases in classrooms. When this happens, during contact tracing, we will be asking for proof of vaccination. Anyone who is determined to be a close contact and can provide the school nurse their proof of vaccination, will not need to quarantine. Anyone who is a close contact and is unvaccinated will have to quarantine for at least seven days (return on Day 8 based on a negative PCR test taken on Day 5) 
• We will not be live-streaming lessons from the classrooms or holding Google Meets. Assignments will be provided. Students who are under quarantine will have work provided to them to complete at home to keep pace. 

Please keep in mind that all this is a snapshot in time. 

We are confident that as a school department and as a community, we will collectively meet the challenges ahead. 


Sincerely, 
    - James J Lombardi III Esq CPA, School Committee Chair 
    - Michael St. Jean, Superintendent 

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Memo from Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green 
August 3, 2021 

As you have likely heard, the CDC updated its guidance related to mask-wearing in K-12 schools. The CDC now recommends that all people in an elementary or secondary school setting wear a face mask, regardless of their vaccination status. This change comes as a result of the growing prevalence of the Delta variant of virus that causes COVID-19, which spreads more easily and may cause more severe illness. 

While we no longer have the authority to mandate mask use, heeding this important warning from the CDC, RIDE in partnership with Governor McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health, is now strongly recommending that districts implement a policy requiring every person in a school setting to wear a face mask indoors, whether vaccinated or not. I understand that this is a change in guidance from the state’s previous guidance, but it is our duty to adapt to protect our students and staff. 

The Delta variant of COVID-19 now has a significant presence in Rhode Island. The Delta variant spreads much more quickly than the strains of the virus that were predominate in Rhode Island even just a few weeks ago. Unvaccinated people are most at risk of getting and spreading the Delta variant, though even those who are vaccinated can spread it. 

Vaccines remain one of the most powerful tools to keep students safe and healthy, and learning in the classroom. It takes approximately five weeks to become fully vaccinated starting with the first dose; depending on your district, the start of school is currently between five and seven weeks away. Please, if
you haven’t, get your first dose of the vaccine as soon as possible. Information on vaccination sites and schedules can be found on C19vaccineRI.org. 

Last year, all of us—educators, families, school leaders, community members, and more— were able to work together to lead the nation in providing in-person learning to our students without the major spread of the COVID-19 virus. I know that together, we will be able to replicate that feat and provide our students, families, and educators with the support they deserve. 

​You can view the latest school guidance at back2schoolri.com.