Everything we know (right now) about going back to school in Kentucky in the fall

Questions about reopening Kentucky schools in the 2020-2021 academic year are looming large as the state is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases and school districts are trying to make unprecedented decisions about health and safety.

Although districts have been announcing plans to deal with coronavirus which range from at-home learning to in-person classes, Gov. Andy Beshear on Aug. 10 asked schools not to return to in-person learning until September 28.

When in-person learning does begin, officials are offering guidance that is fluid and are leaving the specifics to individual school districts.

Many superintendents who plan on in person classes said there will, at a minimum, be a focus on wearing facial masks, social distancing, temperature taking, and cleanliness.

The Herald-Leader will continue to update this article as new information is available, but here is what we know right now:

When will Kentucky public schools reopen?

On Monday, Aug. 10 Gov. Andy Beshear recommended that all Kentucky public and private schools postpone their start date for in-person learning until September 28 to curb the spreading coronavirus.

A summer spike in cases had about 30 districts including Jefferson, Jessamine, Clark and Franklin announcing that they would start the school year with at-home learning only, prior to Beshear’s August 10 request.

Green County Schools reopened to in-person learning on Aug. 17.

What about Lexington schools?

The Fayette County Public Schools Board of Education on July 23 unanimously voted to begin the year remotely. Superintendent Manny Caulk and board members reiterated that the district had to be flexible and instruction could change and students could go back into in-person learning as coronavirus cases dropped. They said the safety of students, staff and families would be paramount throughout and they would work with public health officials.

Caulk said he would reconsider the at-home learning only option in late September and at other intervals throughout the school year.

At the July 27 regular board meeting, board members voted that the first day of the 2020-2021 school year was Aug. 26. The district will also have a virtual only option for students at higher risk of COVID-19 complications or with immediate family members in that situation. It will require a semester long commitment.

Could new KY virus cases delay school reopenings?

Yes. Gov. Andy Beshear has said that in general, if people don’t follow rules aimed at curbing COVID-19, the state will have difficulty reopening schools.

Any action to lessen or invalidate the mandate to wear facial masks threatens any chance of getting kids back to in-class instruction, Beshear has said.

When will private & Catholic schools restart?

Parochial schools in Kentucky as well as several private schools and a few public schools have decided to open to in-person instruction in advance of Beshear’s September 28 recommendation.

What should students, teachers with health conditions do?

Gov. Andy Beshear told WLEX that perhaps those students and teachers could work together in the at-home learning program called non-traditional instruction or NTI.

What will student schedules look like?

Many districts are working out what new COVID-19 era schedules will look like. But state guidance documents are recommending one option in which student would be sorted into two groups and would alternate periods of time engaged in learning in the school building and periods of time receiving instruction at home.

Will students have to wear masks? Where, how long?

State officials say that students will need to wear masks anytime they aren’t staying six feet apart from others in the classroom or whenever they are moving, such as on the bus or in the hallway. See the latest.

Can kids be punished for not wearing masks?

State officials are suggesting that schools use persuasion first, but not wearing a mask could be a disciplinary issue as a last resort. Parents will have the option of keeping students home for virtual learning.

How will grades be affected?

Each school makes its own grading rules, but there are likely to be grading changes given that school districts will be implementing unprecedented learning models. Grading will measure the quality of the work. Student participation will be a new and separate measure, recorded daily based on video chats or phone calls with teachers, in-person learning, group chats or time spent on virtual learning platforms..

How will COVID-19 affect school buses?

Under state guidance, wearing a mask while riding the bus is a safety expectation unless there’s a medical reason. The first seat would remain empty behind the driver. There would be staggered seating and assigned seating. Temperature taking could be required before a student could enter a bus. The new recommendations say drivers and monitors will wear a face mask or faceshield whenever they are inside a bus unless they have been provided with a doctor’s excuse. They will use gloves for any direct contact with a student. Surfaces and high-touch areas should be cleaned and disinfected between runs. However, each school district can make its own rules.

Should I drive my child to school?

Every parent who can should be driving their child to school, Gov. Beshear said.

Should I expect temperature checks for my kids?

A child’s temperature will likely be checked each day before they enter the bus or school building. Outside of temperature taking, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not recommending blanket coronavirus testing for students who do not have symptoms of COVID-19, state officials said.

What if kids get to the bus or school and have a fever?

Bus riders with a fever will be separated from other students, taken to school and then sent home. Students with a fever at school will be sent home and in both cases, students with fevers will be kept away from other students until parents can be reached.

How will extracurricular activities like band work?

The Kentucky Music Educators Association COVID-19 back- to-school plan has been approved by the governor’s office addressing both band musicians and choral groups. Guidance documents recommend temperature screenings for students, facial masks, no carpools to and from rehearsals, and several rules on cleaning. Students must keep a 6-foot-by-6-foot distance between players, with an extra 3 feet for trombones; wear masks until everyone is seated and no talking without a mask, sit facing the same direction; wear masks with a slit for an instrument mouthpiece whenever possible; not share band equipment; and rehearse outdoors when possible, perhaps under open-sided tents.

On July 17, KMEA canceled state championships quarterfinals on October 24 and Semifinals/Finals on October 31.

Will there be fall school sports?

The Kentucky High School Athletics Association voted Aug. 20 to allow fall sports teams to begin practicing on Aug. 24 after weeks of workouts that were limited to conditioning and individual skills training under strict coronavirus protocols.

Sports seasons for football, soccer, volleyball, field hockey, cross country, cheer and dance have been delayed and shortened. Football games are scheduled to kick off Sept. 11. Competitions in the rest are slated to begin Sept. 7. All games that were scheduled before these dates were canceled. Some games could be rescheduled.

Despite the KHSAA approval, Gov. Andy Beshear could still deem sports activities too risky to move forward with regular practices and games. The KHSAA has said it will give Beshear their formal plan no later than Aug. 26. Beshear could weigh in on it at any time.

Additionally, individual school districts could rule out moving forward as well. Fort Knox and Fort Campbell have canceled football, soccer and volleyball. Fayette and Jefferson county public school boards are considering their next steps at meetings on Aug. 24.

Golf, because it is a low-touch sport that was already approved for play during the pandemic, began practice July 15 and matches on July 31.

Can kids participate in school sports if they home learn?

Yes, as of August 17.

What if school starts and the pandemic worsens?

Schools have been told to plan for intermittent closures. State officials said during a virtual meeting that given contact tracing, its possible that specific classes, schools or districts could be shutdown instead of a statewide closure in the event of an outbreak.

How will schools handle contact tracing?

Schools will notify local health department of any positive cases of COVID-19 and be prepared to cooperate with the contact tracing investigation with manifests of bus transportation, classrooms, and cafeteria setting charts that will allow quick identification of those at high risk of infection from the positive COVID-19 student and staff.

This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 4:52 PM.