As we head into spring and the final trimester of the school year, I would like to thank you again for
your persistence in doing whatever it takes to support a healthy learning environment for our
students, faculty and staff. The challenges of the past year have affected each family in different
ways and I am certain that each of you is looking forward to a return to normalcy in the coming
months.

I am very proud of our faculty, staff and administration who have given their best to keep learning
alive in-person and remotely under the most trying circumstances. While every aspect of teaching,
learning, activities and events have been modified this year due to the pandemic, we are preparing
to safely expand co-curricular learning opportunities such as field trips, band concerts, boys and
girls club and community recreation this spring.

Regional COVID-19 Data
Until recently, the total number of positive cases of COVID-19 in Allegan and Ottawa counties has
declined since the beginning of the new year. The current seven-day average of new cases in
Allegan County is 21 new cases per day, while Ottawa County is seeing 47 new cases per day.
Positivity rates in both counties are rising slightly and are currently between 5% and 6% indicating
continued spread in our community. State and local health departments are closely tracking the
more contagious B.1.1.7 variant that is beginning to spread more rapidly in the state and around the
country. The number of positive cases of school aged children in both counties remains relatively
low and stable. Fortunately, hospitalizations and Covid patients in intensive care remain very low
in our region.

Vaccination Information
Nearly all SPS faculty and staff have been fully vaccinated which provides extra health protection
and relaxes quarantine requirements for faculty and staff exposed to a positive case. Over 600
members of our surrounding community were vaccinated in our middle school gym on March 11th.
The Allegan County Health Department anticipates that any individual sixteen or older will be
eligible to be vaccinated beginning April 5th. For more vaccination information and to sign up to be
vaccinated, visit vaccinatewestmi.com.

Spring Break Travel
Please continue to follow the effective mitigation strategies that we have had in place since the
beginning of the school year if you travel over spring break. Masking, social distancing, and hand
washing continue to be our best safeguards against the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and
community. All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens are required to
have a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they
board a flight to the United States. Please self-quarantine your children upon return from spring
break if they are symptomatic or are a close contact to a known positive case of COVID-19. Parents
are encouraged to report any positive student cases or close contacts to a known positive case to
spscovid-19@saugatuckps.com during spring break.

Construction at DES
Teachers and students at DES completed their classroom moves last week in preparation for
construction beginning the week of April 2nd. Construction trailers, dumpsters, and fencing will
begin to arrive on site next week. Construction of the temporary covered walkway from the
fourth/fifth grade hallway to the gym will begin a few days early to ensure that it is completed prior
to students returning from spring break on April 12th.

Looking forward to a fantastic finish to the 2020-21 school year,

Tim