Hello, PPS Parents and Caregivers!
As we enter the traditional “Cold and Flu” season, it is no coincidence COVID numbers are also showing a slight uptick. I appreciate the efforts that you and your students are making to get vaccinated, mask, and remain socially distanced to prevent the spread of COVID-19. During the school day we continue to clean desks and common spaces. We are constantly bringing fresh air into our buildings and encouraging students to use good hygiene throughout the day.
We also continue to monitor the incidence rates for our county and region as we meet with local doctors and health officials each week. Looking back over the past seven days that the “COVID-19 Current Incidence Rate in Kentucky” map has been published, we see an average incidence rate of 17.9. We are encouraged that numbers seem stable, but these rates are a reminder that we must continue to be vigilant and do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here are a few reminders that can make a big difference in helping all our students stay in school:
- While masks are optional for students and staff while at school, masks continue to be recommended for everyone. Wearing a mask adds an extra layer of protection that helps keep everyone around you safe. You can see our mask and quarantine protocol here.
- Masks will continue to be required for all students while riding the bus, in compliance with the federal mandate.
- Test to Stay is available for students and staff who have been exposed to a positive case at school. Masks will continue to be required for students participating in the Test to Stay program.
- If your children have not received the vaccine, please consider having them vaccinated. You can find out more about vaccine clinics that are available here.
- The email address for COVID-related questions is HASO@paducah.kyschools.us
Please remember that if there are two or more days “in the red” (an incidence rate equal to or greater than 25 per 100,000) for a current week, our local health officials committee will review the potential need to return to universal masking. Any adjustment to universal masking will be announced on Friday afternoon for the following week.
We certainly hope that we don’t have to return to required masking, but we want you to be aware that it might be necessary if COVID-19 incident rates go up.
Again, thank you all for the continued support! We would not have reached a point where we could go mask optional without your help. We look forward to finishing the fall semester and entering Christmas Break healthy and strong.
Go Big Blue!
Dr. Donald Shively, Superintendent