COVID Update - February 28, 2022
Greenback Family,
The Kansas Department of Education informed us that the CDC has exercised its enforcement discretion to not require that people wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems. Effective today, we will make masking optional for students on our route and activity buses.
Knowing there has been a fair amount of controversy with this requirement, I want to express my appreciation to our parents and students for rolling with the punches and helping us navigate a challenging issue—it’s a “buck up” mindset that I believe contributes to our students’ short term and long-term success. Of course, Covid remains a significant health concern for our community but the CDC is adapting to the current trendlines and the availability of effective vaccines for those who choose that option. Certainly, we will still support our students who choose to mask. We lost a bus driver to Covid—early on—and our drivers may continue to use appropriate PPE to provide some mitigation from contracting Covid or the flu. Those losses stick with you just as many of our families have experienced tragedy during this pandemic.
I also want to express our support and appreciation for our local healthcare officials who have been on the frontline fighting the good fight for us. There is much to be thankful for.
Respectfully,
Tony Helfrich
Superintendent
Pratt Schools USD 382
