March 12, 2020
Dear Parent or Guardian,
As of noon today, Governor Beshear has NOT made the recommendation to cancel schools as it relates to the corona virus (COVID-19). The Governor has informed school superintendents that we should be prepared in the event of school closure. Also, we are working with local and state government officials and health agencies to help inform our decisions as it relates to COVID-19. With this in mind, I want to take opportunity to inform you of some of the extra measures that we have taken to help prevent the spread of germs and viruses in our schools and buses:
· We have provided extra cleaning teams to assist with our efforts in treating rooms and buses EVERY NIGHT with a professionally prescribed solution to disinfect. (Protexus Cordless Electostatic Sprayers are used during our disinfecting processes along with the daily surface cleaning and disinfecting.)
· We have made adjustments in our school health program protocols used by our school nurses to help identify, report, and treat students with specific symptoms. If necessary, students are sent home for additional evaluations by their health care providers.
· We have made adjustments in our school food service program to take extra precautions to prevent the spread of germs/viruses.
We should also keep in mind that we should practice other safety precautions to prevent the spread of germs/viruses both at school and at home:
· Wash your hands with soap and water often.
· Avoid touching your face.
· Cough and/or sneeze into a tissue and dispose of the tissue properly.
· Cough and/or sneeze into the inner arm/elbow area.
· Use a non-contact method of greeting each other (avoid handshaking, etc.).
· Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, desks, etc.
· Increase ventilation by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning.
One other thought: Leading health officials say that COVID-19 seems to have a more adverse effect on the 60 and older population, particularly those with compromised immune systems. While we want to take care of our children, always be mindful of this more susceptible population.
More information becomes available as the days and hours progress. You should always stay up-to-date through reliable media outlets. If the decision for school closure is made, we will keep you informed, and we will also provide additional information as it becomes available. For more information, here is the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC’s) website for information on COVID-19: www.cdc.gov/COVID19
As always, we appreciate your being…
All In,
Robbie L. Fletcher, EdD