PRE Newsletter
November 20, 2020
Important Dates
November 30-December 14 Toys for Tots
December 17 School Spelling Bee
December 23-January 4 Winter Break
USD 232 Families:
The Board of Education held a special meeting on Monday evening, November 16, to consider a recommendation pertaining to the Kansas Schools Gating Criteria. In acknowledgement and response to the growing spread of COVID-19 infections in Johnson County, the Board took action to identify the district as being in the Orange Category of the criteria and to modify the learning environment for secondary students (middle and high school).
Beginning November 30, 2020, all secondary students (grades 6-12) will shift to the remote learning environment. Elementary students will continue in the on-site (in-person) learning environment. The district will continue to monitor health conditions / staffing patterns and will revisit the decision two to three weeks after the change in learning environment.
It is important to emphasize that the Board’s action is consistent with the adopted gating criteria and is based on the increasing spread of the virus across the county. As a result, the school district is seeing a rise in the number of students and employees who are in quarantine or isolation. The impact is affecting the district’s ability to fully staff buildings at all levels. Implementing remote learning for secondary students will allow the district to shift critical human resources to the elementary level, giving the district the best opportunity to keep elementary students at school for in-person learning.
Families and employees are asked to continue with mitigation efforts to help slow the spread of the virus. The district acknowledges that schools continue to do an exceptional job of implementing protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the schools. Social distancing, mask-wearing, and hand washing, for example, have helped to keep transmission low inside the school buildings. However, the district is seeing an impact on staffing due to the sharp increase in cases within the community.
Elementary Families
In light of the current situation in Johnson County, the district asks elementary parents to have a plan for the weeks ahead. Administration is working closely with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment to monitor conditions in our schools and the district. While the goal is for all students to have in-person instruction, changes in learning environments will occur if the health situation deteriorates. The district will provide as much notice as is possible under the given circumstances. Actions in response to localized outbreaks could mean shifting classrooms or buildings to remote learning with little notice.
Activities & Rentals
Because the district is in the Orange Category, it will suspend spectators at activities and events effective November 30. All rentals of facilities will also be suspended, except for the child care services provided by Johnson County Parks and Recreation District.
Background
At the direction of the Board of Education, the superintendent formed a COVID Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the superintendent on COVID-19 school gating criteria. The committee has no authority to make changes to the learning environment and only makes recommendations about the categories within the Kansas Schools Gating Criteria.
The superintendent’s advisory committee is made up of 17 individuals with the superintendent serving as chair.
· Five parents/patrons from across the district recommended by board members;
· Five staff members (an elementary teacher, a secondary teacher, one member from health services, district mental health and human resources teams);
· Three outside experts (a public health professional, a medical professional, and a mental health professional); and
· Four ex officio members (three Board of Education members and superintendent).
We appreciate our families and staff during this challenging time. Please continue to follow the latest public health guidance and take preventative actions to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Despite the surge in COVID-19 cases, it is within our power to bend the curve again. We cannot relax our safety standards because it takes each of us doing our part in our daily activities. Wear your mask or face covering, maintain physical distance, wash your hands, and avoid crowded indoor gatherings and events when possible.
Information about COVID-19 related communication
Defining a Case of COVID-19 Disease and the Infectious Period
A person is considered a case of COVID-19 disease if they have tested positive for the SARSCoV-2 virus by a diagnostic test. Based on what we currently know, a case is considered infectious three days prior to the onset of symptoms through at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms. For cases that do not have symptoms, the infectious period is considered as three days prior to the date the sample was collected through a minimum of 10 days from the date the sample was collected. Cases must remain in isolation until they have met the criteria for release from isolation set by state and/or county health departments.
Defining a Close Contact
A person is considered a close contact of a case if they were within six feet of the case for ten minutes or more without masks, or if they had exposure to secretions (for example, being coughed or sneezed on). People who are close contacts of a COVID-19 positive or presumed positive individual during that person’s infectious period are considered exposed and should quarantine. Close contacts are recommended to remain in quarantine until they have met the criteria for release from quarantine set by state/county health departments.
General Notification Letter
Schools will send a general notification letter to families and staff when an individual or individuals connected to the school test positive for the virus.
Low-Risk Notification Letter
A person may receive a low-risk notification letter indicating they may have had a low-risk exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Although the risk of developing COVID-19 based on this exposure is low, watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms include, but not limited to, fever, cough, loss of smell and/or taste, chills, fatigue, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, muscle aches, chest pain, headache, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, sore throat, and runny nose.
High-Risk Notification Letter
A person will receive a high-risk notification letter from Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) indicating they had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. JCDHE carefully considers all information when determining isolation and quarantine recommendations. If a person was identified in the case investigation, their proximity to or nature of the interaction with the positive individual was enough to put them at higher risk for contracting COVID-19. Because the exposure is considered high risk and per public health recommendations, students will be excluded from school for 14 days from the date of last exposure, if no other exposures occur.
Toys for Tots
Box Tops
Shutterfly
Ordering cards for the holidays? Support PRE by placing your orders this year through our Shutterfly Storefront. You can create cards, photo books, keepsakes, gifts, home décor and more—and Shutterfly will donate 8% to Prairie Ridge Elementary.
Please help spread the word by sharing our Shutterfly Storefront with your friends and family. Happy Holidays and happy shopping! http://pre.shutterflystorefront.com/
Amazon Smile
Did you know you can support the PTO with AmazonSmile? When you select Prairie Ridge Elementary PTO, for each eligible purchase, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the PTO! On your computer, go to https://smile.amazon.com. If you use your mobile device, this can be configured under "Settings". Shop and feel good!