The Christian County Public School District has announced COVID-19 safety protocols that will be followed for the beginning of the upcoming school year.
Superintendent Chris Bentzel said the protocols come after meeting with the district’s COVID Task Force Tuesday.
Citing recommendations from the Kentucky Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the wide availability of vaccines, Bentzel said the wearing of masks at school will be encouraged but not mandated for students and staff. The mask policy could change based on the fluidity of the virus and its variants.
Bentzel added Christian County schools value in-person learning and that the health, well-being, and safety of students and staff are top priorities in the district.
Based on input from local and state health agencies, District Health Director Megan Kidd has issued the following guidelines:
- According to the latest guidance from state officials, masks are recommended for students and staff while in classrooms and on school buses; this will be a parent/guardian decision for all Christian County Public Schools shareholders.
- A support plan will be in place for parents who want their students to wear masks all day.
- Personal Protective Equipment will be available in each school for staff and students if needed.
- When able, social distancing of 3-6 feet will be utilized for mitigation purposes.
The district will continue to monitor COVID data on a local and state level and is continuing a working relationship with local health officials to assess the ever-changing status of COVID.
The district added the Virtual Learning Academy will remain an option for students in grades 3 through 12. They will also continue to promote the COVID vaccine, as well as implement a strong contingency plan, that will be ready, if and when, COVID transmission shows strategies need to be executed.
Visitors are currently allowed in CCPS locations. However, that may change if and when the contingency plan is put into place. The board of education will be updated with the COVID re-entry plan at the Thursday, August 5th meeting.
