Central Ky. school district closes; 21 in state have stopped in-person instruction
Berea Independent schools are shut down through the end of the week with no learning. The district is at least the 20th in Kentucky to stop in-person classes this school year during the latest COVID surge.
“School is closed the remainder of the week. There will be NO ZOOMS or new assignments made,“ school officials said. The four days will be added to the school calendar at the end of the year, according to the school.
In a letter on the district website, Superintendent Diane Hatchett said that the closure was “an effort to promote health and safety.”
“We have had large numbers of both students and staff out today,” the letter said.
In Crittenden County, due to increasing student and staff COVID cases and a bus driver and substitute teacher shortage, the school district has returned to remote learning from Wednesday through Sept. 10.
Similarly, staff and student COVID cases and quarantines along with substitute shortages led Marshall County Schools to announce Tuesday that it will have a virtual school day on Sept. 3.
Additionally, Marshall schools will be closed on Sept. 7. Students will not be required to make up Sept. 7.
On Monday, Russell County Schools returned to virtual learning. Like some others, the district suspended sports.
The following districts have stopped in-person learning for various time periods. Some have offered no learning and others returned to virtual learning: Casey, Carter, Franklin, Owsley, Knott, Powell, Pike, Lee, Leslie, Jenkins Independent, Carroll, Greenup, Letcher, Russellville Independent, Fairview Independent, Edmonson and Magoffin.
Gov. Andy Beshear hopes to call a special session of the General Assembly to deal with issues arising from a coronavirus surge. Lawmakers in 2021 passed a new law that has prevented districts from returning to virtual learning for extended days. There are calls to fix that as cases escalate.
This story was originally published August 31, 2021 at 10:01 AM.