School still at level green

Preparations and protocols developed over a course of months to deal with a COVID-19 case in the school paid off. 

Perkins County Schools Superintendent Phillip Picquet confirmed the school  was notified on Monday, Sept. 22 a 7-12 teacher had tested positive for coronavirus.

Protocols and procedures triggered by the news were put in place right away.

Through the Covid pandemic, the school has worked closely with the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department in McCook.

As soon as the school became aware, Picquet said they contacted the health department.

He said they filled out forms that included such things as classrooms used by the teacher, was there students with close contact for more than 15 minutes with the teacher, etc., all in an effort to determine who might have been exposed. 

Students who had the possibility of being exposed to the virus were called in and notified. They were also given letters to take home to parents. 

The health department made further contact with students to determine whether a student needed to quarantine. Fortunately, none of the students were require to do so, Picquet said. 

Based on when the teacher had begun to have symptoms of the virus and the date of the positive test were used to determine when the teacher could safely return to the classroom. That occurred Tuesday. 

Picquet said the procedure is the same whether it’s a student or a teacher. More than likely, he said they are bound to see more cases in the student or staff population going forward. 

He’s hopeful there won’t be a large outbreak that requires many students and staff to quarantine. “We just want to stay in school.”

With six weeks of school already complete, he’s pleased how well things have gone in terms of Covid. 

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