Group wanting in-person classes suggests superintendent resign. Board chair says ‘no.’

As the Fayette school board anticipates a possible Monday night vote on returning to in-person classes, the social media group ‘Let Them Learn in Fayette County” is suggesting that Superintendent Manny Caulk resign.

“We have put out a call to our board members to ask for the resignation of the superintendent should they be asked to vote on whether our kids can return to in-person schooling without being presented with a detailed plan of how the district envisions doing this safely,” Todd Burus, a leader in the group wanting options amid the coronavirus posted Monday. “Whether it’s safe to return and if there’s a plan are two different matters.”

But school board chairwoman Stephanie Spires said Monday afternoon she won’t ask for Caulk’s resignation because district leaders and others have been actively working on a plan for safely returning students to the classroom since March, when Fayette students began learning from home.

“Updates have been provided at Fayette board meetings, however it is premature to share the detailed logistics of that plan, because as conditions continue to change and more information is learned, the plan continues to be modified,” Spires said. “The facilities team has been working hard to prepare Fayette public school buildings and the buses with safety modifications. “

The district academic leadership team, along with the leaders at the individual schools, “have been re-envisioning the student learning experience as well as the logistics with a hybrid model” of at home and in-person learning, said Spires.

She said that as the community and district prepares for the return of students, it is important that families remain flexible.

Spires said in upcoming weeks, the board will be meeting with Caulk for his annual review. Several school districts in Kentucky have returned to in-person learning. Fayette officials started the school year virtually with a plan to review the incidence rate of COVID-19 cases this week and at regular intervals.

Caulk did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

This story was originally published September 28, 2020 at 2:22 PM.