FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA), along with several partners, is making a donation of 80,000 cloth face masks for students in Kentucky's public schools.

The donation, in partnership with the National School Boards Association and the KSBA Educational Foundation, will be made directly to Kentucky's Family Resource and Youth Services Centers (FRYSC), a division of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. 

“Our goal, from day one, has been to distribute these masks to some of our Commonwealth’s most underserved communities,” said KSBA Executive Director Kerri Schelling. “We cannot think of better partners to help us do that than the dedicated women and men of Kentucky’s Family Resource and Youth Services Centers.”

The masks will be available before Sept. 28 when some Kentucky school districts will return to in-person instruction with masks as a requirement.

80,000 colorful cloth masks like the ones seen here were donated by the Kentucky School Boards Association, to be distributed to students through Kentucky’s Family Resource and Youth Services Centers.

“It is well documented that this is a time of increased stress and anxiety for many of our families. While we can’t take away viruses, grief, racial trauma, and the other things impacting our students, we can connect with students via home visits and calls, coordinate safe opportunities for students to engage in pro-social activities, and do our level best to get them what they need to engage in virtual learning,” said state FRYSC Director Melissa Goins. “We can do things to mitigate the impact of the 2020 experience. It is our responsibility.”

KSBA represents the Commonwealth's 857 locally elected school board members. Kentucky’s network of 857 FRYSCs operate in 1,200 schools statewide, providing resources to over 600,000 students and their families.

“As our FRYSCs strive for educational equity and as they assist families to overcome non-academic hurdles, we hope these masks can play a small role in their continued success,” Schelling said."