Estill County Schools COVID-19 Update and Important Message for Students, Staff and Families

September 3, 2021

This is our weekly COVID-19 update for the week of August 30^th.  The overall number of COVID-19 cases in our community continue to be very high, but the overall number of active student and staff infections in our schools have actually decreased during this same time.  The number of quarantines for students and staff have remained steady.  We want to thank our students and our staff for being vigilant in this fight, and due to their hard work we will continue next week with in-person instruction.  We will continue to monitor case numbers this coming week, and I stand ready to act if necessary. 

Remember, our current District COVID Data by school can be found on our website or by clicking the link below.  This information is updated every 24 hours.   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gIGr9k9tTCxMWU5vq7lneTmEH6JTgkguK95TxxttoN8/edit?usp=sharing

The Governor and legislative leadership have been in conversations this week and I hope common sense can prevail as we head toward a special session in the coming days.   School districts need to have some additional options to deal with this pandemic.  I continue to urge you to contact our Governor and state legislators and ask them to give school districts the tools they need to deliver instruction to our students in a productive and safe manner.

Next week our District, the Estill County Health Department and several of our community partners will be announcing a COVID Vaccination event for students, parents, and the entire community.  The event will be held at Estill County High School before the end of September and individuals will receive t-shirts, door prizes, gift cards and other incentives for their participation.  With full FDA approval of the Pfizer Vaccination, I hope everyone that has been hesitant about taking the vaccine will reconsider. 

We can defeat this virus if we practice safe habits, and be considerate of others.  Wear a face covering while in doors and follow all CDC guidance.  In order for us to get back to some sense of normal, we will have to see an increase in the percentage of our community members that have been vaccinated or we will keep repeating this same cycle over and over again.     

I hope you enjoy your Labor Day weekend and we will see everyone back next Tuesday.  Please be safe and enjoy the long weekend!!!

Jeff Saylor, Superintendent

Estill County Schools