Week of Aug. 24 in-person reopening anticipated for Fayette schools amid pandemic

Fayette Superintendent Manny Caulk on Wednesday said that district officials were “looking at” the week of Aug. 24 for an in-person school reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our district is looking at reopening the week of Monday August 24 with a new model of on-campus, face-to-face instruction,” Caulk said in a statement. “This is later than our school district normally starts, but this change allows us to take advantage of the flexibility afforded in state law to have a shorter school year, which could prove crucial if intermittent closures are required.”

Under each of the scenarios under consideration, students would be divided into two groups.. When students are not physically in school, learning would continue virtually. All students would learn from home one day a week, while teachers provide follow-up support and schools receive a deep cleaning. Fayette and all other Kentucky schools shut down in-person learning in March.

Caulk said in a letter to families that he was anxious to be able to make specific plans for the 2020-2021 school year.

“With each passing day, it seems the only thing we can be certain of is that the situation we face with the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to evolve as scientists learn more about the virus, public health officials revise their guidance, and cases rise or decline not only in Fayette County, but across Kentucky, the nation and the world,” Caulk said.

On Wednesday, the district launched a survey about the 2020-2021 school year, requesting families’ thoughts about sending their child back to school and opinions on possible instructional models. The deadline for completing it is midnight July 12.

Those voices will be critical in making decisions that work best for Fayette County,” Caulk said. “If we have learned anything these past few months, it is just how much families and schools can accomplish together.”

Fayette County Public Schools is considering alternative scheduling models that would reduce the number of students in the building at the same time, the survey said. Each option is based on having two groups of students that are either physically at school or learning virtually. When students are not physically in school, they will be learning at home, participating in project-based learning opportunities or other related assignments.

Some of the possible rotations include:

▪ Option 1: All students physically attend school and are required to wear a mask. Families may opt out for a virtual/remote learning experience.

▪ Option 2: Group A would physically attend school Monday through Thursday for a week and Group B would physically attend school Monday through Thursday the next week. On Fridays and alternating weeks, students would be learning at home.

▪ Option 3: Each group would attend two days a week and learn virtually three days a week. For example: Group A would physically attend school on Monday and Wednesday and learn remotely Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Group B would physically attend school on Tuesday and Thursday and learn remotely on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Caulk said the uncertainty and disruption of “school as we’d known it” since mid-March has been and continues to be a challenge.

Caulk said he was concerned not only about the instructional time lost for students, but also about their social and emotional well-being and the toll the pandemic has taken on our families.

A task force of students, families, teachers, health officials, principals and district leaders has been working on a reopening plan since April, Caulk said. The group has examined the pros and cons of face-to-face in person instruction, distance or virtual learning, and a blend of both approaches.

He said the work is difficult and detailed because any reopening scenario involves considerations for academic instruction, supplies and materials, student support, family engagement, extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, facilities, transportation, food service, cleaning, health and screening protocols, human resources, and communications.

Caulk said every decision made will be in accordance with requirements from federal, state and local health authorities including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Kentucky Governor’s Office, Kentucky Department for Public Health and Lexington-Fayette County Health Department.

He said the reopening plan will be flexible, prioritize health and safety, be respectful of circumstances facing students, families and employees, maximize in person instruction, and reflects best practices about wearing masks, practicing social distancing, sanitizing hands and surfaces, health screening and temperature checks, and contact tracing.

Caulk also told employees on Wednesday that a survey was being developed for them.

Most Kentucky public schools traditionally open in the first or second week of August and prior to the pandemic, many districts , including Fayette had planned to open around Aug. 12.

However, some districts are now opting for a later date or different model. Virtual learning from home, not part of the everyday schedule in the past, is now being widely offered.

Clark County School officials announced this week that the first day for students would be Sept. 8. That’s the same day Floyd County Superintendent Danny Adkins said schools will open in his district for students. Scott County officials are considering an Aug. 26 reopening for students, Superintendent Kevin Hub has said.

This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 10:31 AM.