Caney Valley Schools stop in-person classes after staff member tests positive for COVID-19

Dear Caney Valley parents, staff and community members:

Today, we received notification that a Caney Valley employee has tested positive for COVID-19. While we must protect the privacy of the person involved, we believe it is best to communicate transparently with you so you can make well-informed decisions for your family.

There is nothing more important to Caney Valley School District than the safety and health of our students, our staff and their families. All students at Caney Valley Elementary could have had close contact with the teacher, so we will be closing on-site instruction and will utilize our remote learning platform from August 20^th to August 28^th.

We are working directly with county health officials to address this situation. It is important to know that should your child/children start exhibiting COVID related symptoms, it is strongly recommended that you contact their primary care physician or the local health department to have them tested immediately.

During remote learning, Caney Valley Schools will allow High School outdoor activities to continue. All indoor activities, and middle school outdoor activities will be suspended and made up if possible. Practices may continue on a voluntary basis. Caney Valley will continue to follow all COVID-related safety procedures including requiring temperature checks prior to any activity for anyone entering a school facility, the strong encouragement for patrons to wear masks, and social distancing from family units. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all students in 1st through 8th grade must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to gain admittance into an athletic event being played at a Caney Valley facility.

Our greatest priority is the safety of our students, staff and community members. It is important to remember that children are greatly influenced by the reactions of adults when facing difficult circumstances. I encourage everyone to remain calm and to be empathic and respectful to those affected.

We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you and your family, especially as we face this challenging situation together. Thank you for your support of Caney Valley Schools.

Sincerely,

Steven D. Cantrell, Ed.D. Superintendent