Ponca City Public Schools returned to in-person learning last week. PCPS said in a January 10 press release that while it was great seeing the students again, there were multiple isolations and close contact quarantines. In fact, many students didn’t start back to school because they tested positive for COVID-19 or were a close contact over Winter Break. Through a global pandemic, PCPS will cherish every moment of in-person instruction with their students.
Over Winter Break, there were 60 reported COVID-19 cases. Some of those were closed prior to the end of the break, but some were not able to return on January 5. Some students and employees were exhibiting symptoms and didn’t return, pending testing. The following were PCPS’ contract tracing investigations last week:
- January 6 – Elementary classroom at Trout Elementary transitioned to Distance Learning for 10 days due to an in-school positive COVID-19 case.
- January 7 – Elementary classroom at Garfield Elementary transitioned to Distance Learning and a case at Po-Hi resulted in close contact quarantine for 10 days.
- January 8 – One elementary classroom at Roosevelt Elementary transitioned to Distance Learning for 10 days. There were also two positive contact tracing investigations at West Middle School resulting in several close contact quarantines. One WMS contact trace included a bus.
Ponca City Public Schools is currently working eight weekend in-school contact tracing investigations, which will be reported on Monday. PCPS was notified of positive cases after 4:30 p.m. Friday, January 8, and information will be provided this upcoming week. Two of these investigations involved varsity activities and bus routes.
The goal for PCPS is to have as many in-person contact days as possible. However, PCPS fully expects for individual sites to transition to Distance Learning at some point. Please help PCPS achieve as many days as possible of in-person instruction during these difficult times practicing protocols during non-school hours. However, if a site experiences a high number of students and staff isolations/quarantines, or if they cannot staff a building to ensure safety and supervision, PCPS will transition to a site/sites to Distance Learning for a 10 day period. Be prepared with plans of Distance Learning for your child if the situation warrants. Keep up-to-date with local site %s on the PCPS Contact Tracing Spreadsheet by going to www.pcps.us.
PCPS will continue to follow all OSDH protocols very strictly to ensure the safety of their students and staff including following OSDH guidelines for isolations and quarantines.
