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ZEBULON - The Pike County School System sent out a letter to students and their parents regarding the Coronavirus on March 5, 2020. It reads in its entirety below.
Below that is a condensed version of the letter that was sent out to students and parents yesterday regarding perfect attendance. This is circulating in its entirety on Facebook.
Parents and Guardians,
I am aware that our community has grown more anxious this week regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As news of the virus continues to dominate the media, it is natural that concerns will be raised. With the health concern getting closer to our area, you should know that our district has been in discussions and is making preparations to create the safest environment for our students and staff that we can possibly create.
District leadership continues to receive updates from the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Georgia Department of Education (GADOE), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Our district is determined to be proactive so that we can be fully prepared should the virus have a direct impact on our community. I have given clear direction to our cleaning service provider to ensure a greater detail of cleaning in each school. We continue to remind our students and staff of good hygiene practices that will help to protect each one of them. As has always been the case, routine acts such as washing hands and covering mouths and noses when sneezing or coughing are the best practices. Of course, students exhibiting signs of sickness such as a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or shortness of breath should be kept home until they have been free of symptoms without medication for a minimum of 24 hours.
In a recent communication, the DPH Commissioner Dr. Kathleen Toomey stated, “The immediate risk of COVID-19 to the general public, however, remains low at this time. I cannot emphasize enough the need for all Georgians to follow the simple precautions that the DPH always urges to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses.”
Our nurses and support personnel have been receiving regular updates from the DPH and the CDC. As a district, we are relying heavily on these organizations to provide guidance to us based on their expertise. I will, as directed, share with our community all pertinent developments and updates that impact our school district.
We are committed to be proactive and to keep everyone informed. Relevant updates from the DPH and CDC will be shared via our website. Any urgent information will be shared directly through our phone call system and the Pike County Schools app notification feature.
For more information, please access the links included in this communication from the DPH and CDC.
Sincerely,
Michael Duncan, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Pike County Schools
Department of Public Health Press Releases and Department of Public Health on the Coronavirus
On March 20, 2020, a letter also went out to students and parents that addressed Coronavirus. As of the release of the letter, no cases have been identified in Pike County. However, the school asked that precautions be taken by parents and students including hand washing and staying at home when sick.
The school system advised that all incentives for Perfect/Excellent Attendance are being suspended "until this virus threat is passed." Excused absenses "will not count against any student for recogniation of perfect/excellent attendance or exam exemptions at the high school."
"This step is merely a precaution and one of several common sense measures our district is taking to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and our staff," Dr. Michael Duncan Superintendent of the School System advised. "I know that I speak for all of our employees in saying that we are making every effort to keep our students as safe as possible. We will all be glad when this concern is behind us."