In a Wednesday press release, school officials say their highest priority is the well-being of their students, staff, and community. They will be following the guidance and safety expectations provided by Kentucky Public Health and the Kentucky Department of Education, however they say there will be frequent adjustments based on individual school needs and the changing state health guidelines.
"I also want to be perfectly clear, in no way do we expect students to wear a mask all day, every day," the announcement says.
Mayfield Independent Schools is planning to begin the school year on August 5th based on the Board approved calendar, and parents that have concerns about returning to in-person learning will have an option of continuing NTI learning.
In their effort to create a "Healthy at School" environment, they will be implementing the following guidelines:
Social Distancing
• We will utilize school space to create social distancing when possible;
• We will have alternatives to eliminate large group gatherings such as the cafeteria.
Face Coverings
• Masks will be worn by staff and students when social distancing is not possible. This will include when riding a bus, changing classes, and some instructional settings;
• Per state guidelines, Preschool and Kindergarten students will not be required to wear masks.
Daily Temperature Checks and Screenings
• No touch thermometers will be used to check temperatures of students and staff each day. A temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher and they will not be able to participate in face to face instruction;
• Parents are asked to check their children for COVID symptoms before leaving for school each day.
Sanitizing and Hand Hygiene
• All facilities will be cleaned and disinfected daily, and high traffic areas will be cleaned throughout the day;
• Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the buildings;
• Students will be encouraged and scheduled to wash hands frequently.
Contact Tracing
• Schools will identify anyone that has had prolonged exposure to any possible cases;
• Where practical, students will remain in self-contained setting, limiting the number of contacts an individual may experience during the day;
• The school campus will be limited to essential persons. Non-essential visitors will not be able to enter schools until further notice.
According to Mayfield school officials, they recognize the challenges ahead and ask that everyone work together to create the best opportunity for the students to succeed during the pandemic. They will be releasing additional information later in July.
