Fayette joins dozens of other school districts in canceling classes for Thursday.
At least 40 Kentucky school districts on Wednesday night announced in-person closings for Thursday and in some cases, schools closed for the rest of the week citing an impending winter storm.
Fayette announced late Wednesday night that the district would be closed on Thursday “ in anticipation of winter weather and hazardous road conditions.” All afternoon and evening activities are canceled. The school will not do NTI (non-traditional instruction, or remote learning) on Thursday.
Madison County Schools and Paris Independent, neighboring districts to Fayette County, will use a non-traditional instruction day on Thursday, January 6.
“We value in-person instruction, but the timing of the winter storm will make it potentially dangerous to transport students home from school,” a Madison County statement said.
School officials in Woodford County, which also adjoins Fayette, announced in social media posts framed in snow flakes that Thursday would be a non-traditional instruction day.
Most officials in districts that canceled in-person classes either said they were closing as a result of a snow forecast for Thursday, or didn’t give a specific reason in social media posts. But one Northern Kentucky district cited a surge of staff COVID cases.
The high number of staff COVID-19 related illnesses is closing Covington Independent Public Schools Thursday and Friday, Superintendent Alvin L. Garrison said in a statement Wednesday.
Garrison said the decision was “difficult.”
“We hope this time will allow our employees to get well and return to the important work of teaching and learning on Monday, January 10, 2022,” Garrison said.
Kentucky broke a record Thursday when it hit nearly 10,000 COVID-19 cases reported in a single day.
In announcing the school closures Wednesday, some district administrators said students would learn virtually or specifically through the state’s non-traditional instruction program and others said classes were canceled all together.
Lee County Schools officials said Thursday’s canceled classes would be made up at a later date.
“The likelihood that the snow is going to come and will impact us at a time that would make it difficult for students and staff to get home safely, even with an early dismissal, is simply too high to take the chance,” a district statement said.
Among the other school districts on Wednesday announcing in-person class closings for Thursday January 6, 2022 were Franklin County, Mercer County, Boyle County, Lawrence County, Morgan County, Rowan County, Barren County, Breckinridge County, Hardin County, Knox County, Marion County, Taylor County, Floyd County, Christian County, Hancock County, Johnson County, Muhlenberg County, Hopkins County, Logan County, Caldwell County, Rockcastle County, McCracken County, Bullitt County, Henderson County, Montgomery County, Metcalfe County, Harlan County, Simpson County, Crittenden County, LaRue County, Estill County, Daviess County, and Monroe County.
Jenkins Independent, Russell, Lincoln and Owsley County School districts were among those announcing non-traditional instruction days on both Thursday and Friday.
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 8:15 PM.