Health and safety update
Friday, February 11
Dear Parkway Community,
The Parkway Board of Education will meet Wednesday, February 16 at 7 p.m. to review and vote on recommended changes to our health plan and other key decisions to support our students and staff in the coming months. You can watch the meeting live online here.
We are recommending the following to the board at its meeting next week:
Pending board approval, masks will be recommended, but not required, in all Parkway K-12 schools effective February 19, 2022. As we previously stated, if the student COVID-19 positivity rate reaches 2% at an individual school, students and staff will be required to wear masks at that school for two weeks. We will include daily updates on the number of cases for each school on our Community Health Dashboard and notify families and staff if a change to masking status was needed.
We are recommending a change to our policy for students returning to school after testing positive for COVID-19 or having symptoms. Students may be able to return to school after five days, instead of 10 days, if certain criteria are met consistent with updated CDC guidelines. More specific details will be shared pending board approval.
We are planning a mental health day off of school for students, teachers and staff on April 14. This is currently scheduled as an early release day for students. Pending board approval, Thursday, April 14 would be changed to a No School day and the district would be closed. That Friday, April 15, is already scheduled as a No School day and the district would be closed.
We are planning to be closed in observance of the new federal holiday, Juneteenth which is observed this year on Monday, June 20. Pending board approval, Parkway would be closed on June 20 and it would be No School day for summer school.
In appreciation of our teachers and staff, who have worked tirelessly to support our children during the pandemic, all eligible full-time Parkway employees will receive a one-time stipend of $1,100 and eligible part-time employees will receive $550, if approved by the board. The timing of this opportunity is possible right now due to a new federal teacher retention grant and an unexpected and unusual increase in revenue from Proposition C sales tax.
We are thankful for your support and patience as we continue to make decisions in the best interest of our students, teachers and staff. You can expect an update from me after the board meeting and I will continue to stay in touch.
Thank you for your support,
Dr. Keith Marty
Superintendent
Parkway Schools