Parkland School District Administration sent the following letter regarding its Health and Safety Plan Aug. 19 to families in the community.

“On July 27, the Parkland School Board approved the 2021-22 Health and Safety Plan.

“As part of this plan, the school board provided the administration the ability to modify the plan as needed based upon the health, safety and welfare of students, staff, and families.

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 case counts and community spread has been increasing as have the potential impact on children.

“Therefore, the following change has been made to the Health and Safety Plan and will go into effect on Aug. 23: The Parkland School District will implement an Indoor Face Coverings Decision Making Matrix.

“This matrix is a leveled system that progresses from low-risk to high-risk.

“Based upon this matrix, Parkland School District is currently in Tier 3.

“Tier 3 represents the highest level of district concern for the spread of COVID-19.

“In Tier 3, all K-12 students, staff, and visitors are required to wear face coverings, while indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

“This was an extremely challenging decision.

“We did not want to create an open ended mandate that requires face coverings.

“The Face Coverings Decision Making Matrix provides Parkland School District with a strategy to loosen or tighten face covering restrictions as evidence of COVID-19 case counts and community spread ebbs and flows.

“This matrix provides clear indicators for the administration to review on a regular basis to allow for the removal of face covering requirements when the data supports a safe change.”