UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2021

Dothan City Schools Removes Mask Requirement
Mask Removal is effective Friday, October 1, 2021.

 

DOTHAN, Ala. – Based on updated data from local health officials, Dothan City Schools will no longer require the wearing of masks in our buildings. This updated procedure is effective Friday, October 1st. Both districts will continue to require the use of masks while on school buses per Federal Department of Transportation regulations. 

The districts will continue to maintain a safe and respectful environment for all students and staff. Anyone who wishes to continue wearing a mask will be encouraged to do so. Due to limited stocks of masks on school campuses, parents are encouraged to send their children with masks, if they choose to.

In making this decision, Dothan City and Houston County Schools are closely following the recommendations of state and local health officials. As these recommendations change, the district may adjust its health and safety protocols accordingly. It remains possible that the districts may need to re-implement their mask policy if the numbers of positive COVID-19 cases in their schools or community increase.

We would like to continue to thank our students, staff, and families for following our mitigation measures this school year.

Any families who have questions are encouraged to contact their child’s building principal.

 

 

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August 26, 2021

Dothan City Schools Implements Mask Requirement
Mask Requirement is effective August 27, 2021

DOTHAN, Ala. – Based on the surge of COVID-19 cases in Houston County, Dothan City Schools (DCS) and Houston County Schools (HCS) have partnered to enforce a mask mandate across both school districts requiring all Pre-K-12 students, staff, and visitors to wear masks while on DCS and HCS campuses and while inside their buildings. The masking requirement applies to all indoor settings, including schools, school district facilities, and school buses. The updated policy is effective Friday, August 27, until further notice.  

The districts have made this decision due to increased positivity rates and the spread of the Delta Variant. Enterprise City Schools (ECS) mandated masks on their first day of school. The number of positive cases in ECS was 191 cases since August 5, while HCS recorded 381 cases since August 6, and DCS recorded approximately 70 cases since August 17. In addition, ECS socially isolated no students while HCS has socially isolated students 983 and DCS socially isolated around 300. DCS predicts their numbers to take the same trajectory of HCS cases if measures aren’t taken to mitigate the spread of the virus. 

Districts and school leaders will continue to monitor guidance and recommendations from local, state, and federal public health officials and review weekly COVID numbers within their districts. The districts may adjust this policy in the future as conditions surrounding COVID-19 change. 

The Dothan City Schools will implement the following strategies in order to preserve our ability to offer face-to-face instruction:

1) Mask are mandated for students, staff, and visitors (indoors) until further notice.

2) Students who refuse to wear the mask will be isolated at school and parents will be contacted to come pick up their child. Absences will be coded as COVID leave in PowerSchool.

3) Students who refuse to wear the mask on the bus will be taken to school and parents called to pick them up. Students will not be allowed on the bus in the afternoon route without a mask, parents will be called to come to the school to pick up their child. If this becomes a habitual problem, students will lose bus privileges.

4) Staff who refuse to comply will be placed on unpaid administrative leave.

As a reminder, the following are the DCS guidelines for socially isolating:

• If both individuals (positive and close contact) are wearing a mask and are at least three feet apart, the close contact does not have to socially isolate.
• If your child has been positive in the last 90 days, they do not have to socially isolate.
• If your child is fully vaccinated, they do not have to socially isolate after exposure. (Fully vaccinated- has received two shots of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one shot of the Johnson and Johnson and it has been at least two weeks since final dose)
• If your child has exposure outside of school, please contact your child’s school nurse for further guidance.

Please Remember:

• If you or someone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19 and are planning to get tested, do not send your child to school and contact the school nurse.
• If you or anyone in your household has a pending COVID-19 test, do not send your child to school and contact the school nurse.
• If your child lives in the same household with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19, do not send your child to school and contact the school nurse.

To read more on Dothan City School's In-Person ReOpening Plan, go to dothan.k12.al.us/dcsreopening

We want to thank our students, staff, and families for following our mitigation measures this school year. Thanks to your efforts, we have been able to keep one another safe and continue with in-person learning. 

Any families who have questions are encouraged to contact their child’s building principal.

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Estimadas Familias de las Escuelas de la Ciudad de Dothan,

Basado en el aumento de casos de COVID-19 en el Condado de Houston, las Escuelas de la Ciudad de Dothan comenzarán a requerir que todos los estudiantes, personal y visitantes usen mascarillas cuando estén dentro de nuestros edificios. Hemos tomado esta decisión debido al aumento en los casos positivos de COVID-19 y la propagación de la variante Delta en nuestra comunidad.

Es importante tener en cuenta que el CDC actualmente recomienda que todas las escuelas K-12 requieran que las personas usen mascarillas mientras están dentro de un edificio, independientemente de su estado de vacunación.

Esta actualización de la política entrará en vigor el viernes 27 de agosto. El requisito de mascarilla se aplica a todos los ambientes interiores, incluyendo escuelas, oficinas del distrito escolar y autobuses escolares. Los estudiantes no tendrán que usar mascarillas al aire libre.

Seguiremos supervisando la orientación y las recomendaciones de nuestros funcionarios de salud pública locales, estatales y federales y revisando los números de COVID semanales en nuestro distrito. Podemos ajustar esta política en el futuro a medida que cambien las condiciones en torno a COVID-19.

Queremos agradecer a nuestros estudiantes, personal y familias por seguir nuestras medidas de mitigación durante este año escolar. Sabemos que no ha sido fácil. Gracias a sus esfuerzos, hemos podido mantenernos saludables y continuar con el aprendizaje en persona.

Si tiene alguna pregunta o preocupación, póngase en contacto con el director(a) de la escuela de su hijo(a). Como siempre, gracias por su apoyo y comprensión.

Atentamente,

Dr. Dennis Coe
Superintendente