September 14, 2021
Paducah Public Schools Families,
I want to thank you, along with our students, faculty and staff, for all that you have done to help this school year begin successfully.
As I said in our school reopening plan, we believe that in-person learning is best for our students. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, our goal continues to be to provide an opportunity for our students to be in school five days a week while keeping the health, safety, and well being of our school community a top priority. With that goal in mind, we plan to offer a Test to Stay program at our schools beginning Wednesday, September 15.
We are partnering with Wild Health to test students who have been exposed to COVID-19 so that they may return to school earlier than the 10-day quarantine period. This program, which follows the guidance of the Purchase Area Health Department, will allow a student to attend school even if they have been exposed to COVID-10 at school if they meet the following criteria:
- The student’s parent signs a testing consent and brings the student to school each morning to the designated testing area.
- Show no symptoms
- Wear a mask indoors at school
- Have been exposed to COVID-19 at school only
- Quarantine when not at school
- Tests negative daily during the Test to Stay program
- Students testing negative may ride the bus home in the afternoon.
Participation in the program is voluntary. Parents may select not to have their child tested. In that situation, your child will be required to quarantine at home and instruction will be provided for the student during the quarantine period.
Participation in the Test to Stay program is not required for students who are vaccinated or who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 90 days.
It is important to note that this testing only permits a student to be at school for the academic part of the day and does not permit a contact to participate in sports or other extracurricular activities until the quarantine period has ended.
If your child is exposed at school, you will be contacted by school personnel to explain the Test to Stay program and discuss the location and time your child needs to arrive at school. All testing is done at school and is free. Please see the attachments for the Test to Stay Protocol, the COVID testing consent form, and testing procedures for each school.
For Each and Every Child,
Dr. Donald Shively, Superintendent, Paducah Public Schools
Attachments:
> Parent Guidance for "Test to Stay" Protocol
> COVID Testing Consent Form
> Testing procedures and instructions by school building