The following message is from Rick Vrhovac, Principal of Monticello High School. It was shared with all Monticello High School parents and students via the Bright Arrow communication system on 2/9/22.
Good evening Mustang families,
I hope this message finds you well. I want to thank all of our students, staff, and families for all of the things you do every day to make our school a great place to work and learn. As expected, the first semester of the 2021-22 school year was very challenging in many ways, but we made it through. While we have had difficult times, we have also had so many positive strides forward to improve the experience of our students and families. Every day, I hear from students about their gratitude toward their teachers, support staff, and coaches and counselors, for their being here for them to help them learn and grow.
With tryouts for spring sports beginning next week, I am writing to make you aware that for the spring of 2022 athletic season, we will not require that athletes be vaccinated. Also, we will not require weekly negative COVID tests for unvaccinated athletes. This will take effect on Monday, February 21.
From the beginning of the pandemic, it has been the approach of our school division to closely work with our local health district and local physicians to track the transmission data for COVID and to follow the guidelines of public health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).
An area we have monitored since September is the prevalence of virus transmission in our athletic programs. The vaccination and testing requirement that started on September 15, 2021 for all student athletes has effectively reduced the numbers of athletes who were required to leave their athletic program to quarantine when compared to the 2020-21 school year as well as the fall of 2021.
Local public health professionals are reporting that COVID infections from the virus omicron variant may have reached their peak and are predicting cases will decline through the spring. As we approach the outdoor spring athletic season, given that more than 90 percent of our student athletes are vaccinated, again, we will not require that athletes be vaccinated. Also, we will not require weekly negative COVID tests for unvaccinated athletes.
The same change is being made for our performing arts programs, including our upcoming spring musicals.
I would like to thank all of our students and their families for their cooperation with our mitigation practices during this pandemic.
We will continue to track the virus and the risks it presents to our students and staff, consult with public health experts and adjust our health protection measures to ensure we are doing all we can to keep everyone safe and to keep our school and extra-curricular programs up and running.
Thank you, again.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rick Vrhovac, Principal
Monticello High School