PULASKI COUNTY, Ark. -- PCSSD superintendent, Dr. Charles McNulty recommended the to continue a face covering mandate for the next sixty (60) days at the Board of Education meeting on October 12, 2021. The Board of Education approved the recommendation and agreed to revisit the face covering mandate at the December Board of Education meeting (December 14, 2021).
Dr. Janice Warren, assistant superintendent for equity and pupil services, presented data to support continuing the mask mandate. Dr. Warren is also the COVID team lead for the District. Executive Director of Communications, Jessica Duff, joined Dr. Warren in the presentation.
PCSSD remains committed to continue with the necessary steps to create a safe environment for students and staff this school year. The District will follow guidelines and recommendations from the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) as well as CDC when it comes to COVID-19 concerns. ADH continues to recommend wearing a face covering inside any public setting: “It is recommended to wear a face-covering in all indoor public settings in areas of substantial or high transmission, whether you are vaccinated or not vaccinated. All areas of Arkansas currently have substantial or high transmission.”
MASKS
PCSSD began the school year with masks as a requirement for all students, staff and visitors in any District building. Over the course of the first eight (8) weeks of school, PCSSD has remained steady with positive case numbers and, consequently, quarantine numbers as well.
School Week | Positive Cases | Total Quarantine (Positive + Close Contact) |
Week 1 | 31 | 147 |
Week 2 | 44 | 301 |
Week 3 | 63 | 340 |
Week 4 | 35 | 238 |
Week 5 | 27 | 129 |
Week 6 | 16 | 95 |
Week 7 | 29 | 125 |
Week 8 | 37 | 209 |
The Arkansas Department of Health releases a “Report on Educational Institutions'' that tracks school districts with five (5) or more active cases every Monday and Thursday. The latest report prior to the October board meeting, released on October 7, 2021, can be found by clicking here.
School District | Cumulative Case Total | Mask Policy |
Springdale SD | 812 | Ended mask requirement on Sept. 15; previously required for grades K-7 and optional for 8-12. |
Cabot SD | 589 | Updated Sept. 15 to require face covering for grades K-6 for staff, students & visitors when 6-foot distance isn’t possible; Face coverings are optional for grades 7-12 for staff, students & visitors. |
Fort Smith SD | 573 | YES: all students & staff since the first day of school (voted 4-3 to extend for 30 days at Oct. 4 meeting) |
Rogers SD | 532 | Updated Sept. 21 to maintain mask requirement for PK-6th grades for staff & students; option for staff & students in grades 7-12. |
Bentonville SD | 501 | Students and staff will no longer be required to wear face coverings while inside starting Thursday, Oct. 7, until further order from the court. |
LRSD | 388 | YES: all students & staff since the first day of school |
Bryant SD | 374 | Masks optional until further review on October 15. |
Benton SD | 295 | Masks have been optional since the start of school. |
PCSSD | 282 | YES: all students & staff since the first day of school |
NLRSD | 167 | YES: all students & staff since the first day of school |
JNPSD | 138 | YES: all students & staff since the first day of school |