What if KY schools can’t open as usual in the fall? Alternate schedules are possible.

Clark County Schools Superintendent Paul Christy is among those in Kentucky considering what he will do if schools can’t open as normal in the fall because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Christy told the Herald-Leader Friday that there is the possibility that the start of the 2020-2021 school year will look much like this spring semester, marked by virtual and at-home learning.

He said if small groups of students can gather by fall then maybe some will go to school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and others on Tuesday and Thursdays.

“I think we are going to see a change in the way that education is delivered,” Christy said. With students losing in-class instruction there will be a gap, he said.

“We’ve got to figure out how we close that gap,” said Christy, whose district has fewer than 6,000 students..

Kentucky principals in a virtual meeting this week talked about the likelihood of having an alternate schedule for the 2020-2021 school year.

The principals discussed what schools and districts should be doing now to prepare for the possibility of schools not being able to open in the fall due to COVID-19, according to a Kentucky Department of Education news release.

Christy said he and his staff are considering having teachers stay with their current students through next fall because they are familiar with them.

Interim Education Commissioner Kevin C. Brown said earlier this week, one superintendent, who he didn’t identify, sent a draft to the Kentucky Department of Education on their district’s plan of action if all students weren’t allowed to be in the building at one time.

“The days were divided up into Group A and Group B,” Brown said of the superintendent’s plan. “Group A comes in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Group B comes in on Tuesday and Thursday. For a plan that we never thought we would have to have, it was well thought out, “ Brown said.

Brown said that the department will be working throughout the summer to help districts if they decide to head in that direction. Christy said he had not yet submitted a formal plan to the state for next fall.

Brown said Gov. Andy Beshear wants school districts prepared if schools can’t open as usual in the fall. On Monday Beshear canceled in person classes for the rest of this academic school year. Students will be learning from home for the next several weeks.

Associate Education Commissioner Kelly Foster said that it would be a wise decision for planning to begin sooner rather than later for a fall when schools can’t open as usual.

“I know we don’t want to think about that, but I think we will be in a lot better shape if we start to have those conversations now,” said Foster.

This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 3:46 PM.