JCPS SCHOOL TASK FORCE

Jefferson County Public Schools Vanhoose Education Center. 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jefferson County Public Schools will move to non-traditional learning Friday and Monday because of an increase in student and staff illness. 

Carolyn Callahan, the district's chief communications officer, said JCPS will implement NTI days Friday, Feb. 7, and Monday, Feb. 10, but all athletic and extracurricular activities will go on as scheduled.

In a letter to families, the district said schools are providing families with school-specific plans for the NTI days.

JCPS said Wednesday it had 351 cases of the flu and 45 cases of COVID-19. The district joins several other local school districts in closing or moving to NTI because of illnesses. 

More than a dozen school districts in Kentucky and southern Indiana are on pause or using non-traditional learning because so many students and staff are sick. Many districts in the Louisville area canceled days or called out for the rest of the week, including Hardin and Bullitt counties.

Oldham County was scheduled to be back Friday after three days of NTI but said Thursday afternoon that school would be canceled with no NTI, and Enrichment Centers will also be closed. The district will make up the day May 28. 

JCPS said Wednesday it noticed the spread varies from school to school. The symptoms are typical of flu A, which is headache, stomach ache and sore throat.

During the days the districts are closed, staff has been doing a deep-clean of school facilities.

JCPS offered three tips Wednesday to help protect children from sickness:

  • Keep sick children at home: If your child has flu symptoms, please keep them home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and feel well enough to participate in daily activities.
  • Consider flu vaccination: If you or your child has not yet been vaccinated, now is the time. The flu vaccine is one of the best ways to prevent severe illness. If your child does not have a healthcare provider or health insurance, please call (502) 485-3387 for assistance in scheduling a flu vaccine appointment at a school-based clinic or our clinic at 3001 Crittenden Drive.
  • Consult a healthcare provider: If you or your child develop flu symptoms or you have concerns about their health, please follow up with a healthcare provider. If your child does not have a provider, our school nurses and nurse practitioners are available to offer guidance.

Doctors said it is not too late to get a flu shot, but it takes a couple weeks for it to take effect.

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