Preston Schools unveils three phase plan for coronavirus protocols moving forward

KINGWOOD, W.Va. – Students in Preston County back in classrooms with a mask mandate through the end of October and a plan to manage protocols for the remainder of the year.

On WAJR’s Talk of the Town, Superintendent Stephen Wotring said masks are required in all buildings and on school buses through October 31. After that, the school district will make decisions based on the statewide status map published by the DHHR. Wotring said following the map will give everyone in the community the same information to evaluate when decisions are made.

The plan is broken down into three phases.

“In November, if we have five consecutive days where we’re gold or below- yellow or green- then masks will become optional,” Wotring said,” If we return to red for three days or more we’ll go back to a mask mandate.”

Currently, Preston County has the fourth highest infection rate in the state. Preston County Health Department V.J Davis said their trends have lagged behind state numbers, so he expects active cases to peak soon, then start to fall.

“When we get to December, hopefully the numbers will really come down by then, we’re going to a percentage basis school by school,” Wotring said,” Looking at the numbers in each school.”

From December forward, administrators will accumulate and maintain data for the ten schools and administration building to set protocol policy. The method will allow Wotring to take action at the site of a potential outbreak rather than closing the entire district.

“We just have to get our own system down to where we can keep those numbers tracking,” Wotring said,” And be able to manage the sheer amount of data we’ll have to track.”

Wotring made it clear that by following the status map students and families will have accurate information on how to prepare for scheduled classes or other activities.

“We’ll be able to follow that all together as an entire community and county and know where we stand,” Wotring said,” It just seems like the one piece everyone has access to.”

The Buckwheat Festival starts Thursday and runs through the weekend. Wotring understands the event will draw thousands over the four day run, but asks residents to take steps to avoid spreading the infection.

“The Buckwheat Festival is so important to our county and hope people can enjoy the festivities,” Wotring said,” But, we need to be smart and wise in our actions there.”

Preston County has nearly 400 active coronavirus cases.