From the Desk of Superintendent Mr. Patrick McKernan

December 03, 2020

Dear USD 429 Patrons:

Thank you for all your patience and flexibility this year as we continue to enjoy coming to school every day to see and teach your children.  This is becoming more of challenge.  As you are aware, there is a surge of positive Covid -19 cases across the state and the region.  USD 429 students are part of those rising numbers.  I will continue to promise you we want to keep our doors  open as long as possible and continue to provide in person education.  You might have also heard the county has passed a mandated mask order for the county until December 7, 2020.  So the obvious question is how does this impact us and your children at school.  We are assuming this includes school and will interpret it that way.  We will be wearing masks during the school day including the classroom, when and where social distancing is not doable.  If wearing a mask in class will keep a student, your child, and our teachers from getting quarantined and able to stay in school, I would think that would be a win for the students, teachers, and parents. 

Most of you who have students participating in winter activities have probably already heard the Kansas State High School Activities Association decision concerning winter activity seasons.  It is dis-heartening parents will not be allowed to see their children participate and compete until after January 28^th.  We value your opinions and know where most of you stand on this issue as parents.   I feel for you.  Kids are going to get to participate, and that is important and a positive to come out of this. 

Please continue to help us with the following:

1. DO NOT Send your child to school if they have are running a fever or have Covid-19 like symptoms.  This sounds like common sense, but a reminder never hurts. 
2. Remind your student to take their mask to school.  We will give the students their second free Troy Trojan mask on January 4^th when they return from Christmas Break.  This will mean we have given the 7-12 grade students 3 masks to this point.  That is why we get a little perturbed when they don’t have one with them.  We have given some students dozens of masks.   
3. Most students do a great job with their water bottles, please remind them to bring them.
4. The REMIND APP.  Make sure you are signed up on the REMIND app for your student’s class or grade level. 

Even though much of what I have noted in this communication is and sounds negative, we have a great deal of positives going on in our schools.  We want to continue to spend more time focusing on those positives.  Please contact me if you have questions.  We are doing our best to keep you informed and will continue to do so. 

Patrick E. McKernan

Superintendent of Schools/Elementary Principal

Troy USD 429