Ky. school district closed Thursday after 200 teachers call in absent and days of unrest

With more than 200 staff members saying they would be absent, Nelson County Superintendent Wesley Bradley told families in a letter that he was canceling classes Thursday due to staffing shortages.

”In this case, we would not be able to safely and effectively deliver academic and operational experiences for students,” Bradley said. “Our teachers and staff are the backbone of our educational system, and their well-being and concerns are of the utmost importance to us.”

Bradley did not immediately offer additional comment Wednesday night.

The school district, located about an hour from Lexington, has seen several days of unrest. Students on Wednesday walked out in protest over a proposed merger of schools.

WDRB in Louisville reported that more than 350 Thomas Nelson High School students walked out of class Wednesday to protest a potential merger that would combine Thomas Nelson with Nelson County High School.

On Tuesday, a longtime school board member announced his resignation at a public meeting after expressing concerns over fellow school board members.

In an Oct. 17 resignation letter to Bradley that he read at a school board meeting this week, board member Damon Jackey said there was a lack of professional leadership among other board members. He said there were “unethical and potentially illegal actions by certain members of this board.”

This story was originally published October 19, 2023 at 7:38 AM.