District plans for first day amid rising covid rates

EDITORS NOTE : Gov. Andy Beshear announced today at 4 p.m. students, teachers, and other school employees in grades K-12 and daycare facilities will be required to wear a mask in school until further notice.

With the first day of school less than two weeks away, officials with Muhlenberg County Public Schools have outlined a plan for opening for in-person classes this month. The first day of school for students is Aug. 23, and officials are quick to say things can change before that date, as cases continue to rise and the county remains in the red.

A special meeting of the board of education will be held at 5 p.m. on Aug. 11 to discuss how the district will cope with the renewed coronavirus outbreak. The meeting will be virtual, and a live stream will be available on the district’s YouTube channel, by searching Muhlenberg Co Schools or from the district’s Facebook page, at Muhlenberg County Public Schools.

At this time the district is not planning to require students to wear masks, and alternative to in-person learning has not been decided.

The county has seen a sharp increase in cases in July, along with much of the state. Cases in people younger than 12 have also increased. Since July 13, the Muhlenberg County Health Department has reported 73 cases in children under 12. This amounts to about a quarter of the cases reported in that time period.

There have been 340 new cases of covid-19 reported by the health department in July, including three deaths. Since the beginning of August, the department has reported 178 cases and one death, with 28 in children under 12.

According to a written statement posted to the district website on July 30, the district remains committed to ongoing conversations with Muhlenberg County Health Department, Kentucky Department of Public Health and the Kentucky Department of Education.

Students and staff will be required to participate in daily covid-19 screening, especially during times of high transmission of the virus in the community, according to the statement. The district will also comply with any federal, state or local requirements or regulations pertaining to covid-19.

The district’s statement says they acknowledge vaccination is the best prevention strategy against covid-19, and they have provided staff with opportunities to get vaccinated and will continue to create additional vaccination opportunities.

While masks are not currently mandated by the state, district officials acknowledge the Centers for Disease Control recommendation, along with Kentucky Department of Public Heath, that unvaccinated individuals age 2 and above should wear masks.

“State-level guidance surrounding this recommendation is rapidly unfolding,” the statement says. It also says officials will announce clear masking guidance for the school community in coming days. This is likely a topic that will be voted on by the board at the Aug. 11 special meeting, one school official said.

The district will provide voluntary covid-19 screening for symptomatic students and staff, conducted with parental consent and with a parent or guardian present. This screening program will be provided at no cost to students or staff, and additional information about the program will be provided prior to full implementation.

Students and staff who are experiencing covid-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, muscle or body aches, vomiting or diarrhea, or new loss of taste or smell, will be required to stay home.

Unvaccinated people who are identified as close contacts with someone who tests positive for covid-19 will only be able to return to work or school upon release from the health department. Vaccinated people will not be required to quarantine unless they are experiencing symptoms.

The district’s custodial staff will continue to implement a cleaning regimen designed for covid-19 prevention, and the district has reviewed ventilation systems in each school building. Bipolar ionization units are installed in some school buildings, and units will be installed at the remaining buildings.

Governor Andy Beshear’s office released guidelines for K-12 schools on July 26. His office is recommending masking indoors for all students under 12, and unvaccinated students and adults over 12. “Our priority is our kids,” Beshear said. “How we make decisions has to come from one simple place: What gives us the best chance to have our kids in school the maximum number of days in the midst of a pandemic? That is our North Star.”