Update to COVID Communications Protocol Effective January 19, 2022

Dear PVSchools Community,

As you are aware, the community spread of the new COVID variant in Maricopa County is in high transmission. To improve the accuracy and effectiveness of our communication to parents, students, and staff we are updating a few COVID communication tools.

First, we will begin updating our COVID Dashboard once per week. The update will occur on Wednesdays each week and will reflect a summary of the past week of positive COVID cases reported to Maricopa County.

The second update will ensure principals provide a daily communication to their school community. This communication will include the number of new positive cases.

And finally, due to the high volume of new positive cases and the way middle and high school students move throughout their schedule (visiting different classrooms throughout the day and coming into contact with others during passing periods), our middle and high schools no longer have the capacity to complete contact tracing. Therefore, we will no longer continue contact tracing in grades 7-12.

We are implementing these strategies as part of our multi-layered approach to the pandemic. This approach begins with everyone making a personal commitment to complete a self-assessment every day and refrain from coming to work or school if COVID-like symptoms are present or awaiting COVID-19 test results. Without the ability to complete contact tracing, this personal commitment is even more important. We continue to promote healthy hand hygiene, social distancing when possible, cohorting, increased air filter and ventilation measures, and more. We will continue our mask regulation with an opt-out provision until further notice.

Thank you, in advance, for your cooperation and continued support of student success on the journey of excellence in PVSchools.

Sincerely,

Troy J. Bales, Ed.D.
Superintendent

As we begin to more widely implement text message notifications, please remember to opt in! Staying connected and opting in to receive text message notifications from PVSchools is as easy as texting the word YES to 67587. Parents and guardians who haven’t already opted-in to receive high-priority SMS messages from our mass notification system, can opt-in at any time.

PVSchools in partnership with In Office Diagnostics (DX), will continue to offer a free, robust drive-through testing program.