JESSAMINE COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — Jessamine County Schools students started the school year online but their school nurses are preparing in case the district changes to in-person instruction.
Kimberly Thompson is the school nurse at Red Oak Elementary School where she explained she has been busy: "I'm emailing and making phone calls to our medically fragile children to get plans in place and to make sure that we have the best plan in place individual plan for each child."
Thompson explained the district supplied her with plenty of necessary PPE "which will include goggles, a facial mask, a gown, and booties and gloves. So, we will be well protected. And, you know, with each student that comes in, when we put hands or assess them or touch them or anything, we'll be well protected as will they. We have plenty of supplies with stuff that we have to use the same equipment every day."
When students, teachers, staff and/or visitors enter the building, they are required to have their temperature taken.
Each Jessamine County school is also designating certain rooms to be 'quarantine rooms' in the event someone develops symptoms throughout the day and needs to wait for someone to pick them up. The schools will also provide transportation home in case the student does not have transportation available.
In addition to the changes, Thompson said nurses are asking for parents' help, "We asked for our parents to help us out during this pandemic, and we'd like to ask that they assess their own children prior to coming to school. Any child with a fever needs to remain home. And so that will help prevent the spread of COVID."
Jessamine County is set to reassess whether they will return to school anytime soon this week.
If students do return to classrooms, Thompson said she and teachers will work every day to teach "them how to social distance and keep their masks on. At this elementary level, they're busy bodies and in educating, I'd love to educate and explain on their level, why we're doing things more, don't just like to say, 'just keep your mask on.' I like to explain why. And washing their hands and how to properly wash their hands for the proper time and things like that."
