‘Difficult decision.’ Rapid COVID increase returns Central Ky. students to home learning

Due to the “rapid increase” in the number of positive COVID-19 cases and quarantined students and staff, students in Bourbon County Schools will learn from home from Wednesday until Nov. 23.

Superintendent Amy Baker said in a letter to families that district officials had made “the difficult decision” to close all schools to in-person learning and use five nontraditional instruction days.

Coronavirus numbers for the week of Nov. 8 through Nov. 12 on the school district website show that 22 students and two staff members at Bourbon County Middle School alone were positive for COVID-19, and 111 students were quarantined.

Most school districts have been able to steadily attend in-person classes recently as the state experienced a drop in COVID-19 infections. But after weeks of decline, Kentucky is seeing a plateau in coronavirus cases, Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday.

Bourbon County students are scheduled to return to classes on Monday, Nov. 29, after the Thanksgiving holidays.

During the five days of NTI, students without internet will use learning packets, and students with internet will use online learning during regular class times, Baker said.