Kentucky's largest school district exhausted four of its 10 nontraditional instruction days this week after grappling with hundreds of employee absences last week.

Senate Bill 25, sponsored by Sen. Max Wise and passed by the committee on a 10-0 vote, would grant districts up to 10 days to implement targeted remote learning closures through June 30 as they continue to deal with absences tied to COVID-19 infections and exposures.

Matt Anderson, executive administrator of culture and climate, said the district has sent information on registration, enrollment and start dates through phone calls and text messages this summer to families whose children were not as engaged in learning last school year.

From the time Kentucky’s largest school district ceased in-person learning in March 2020 through Jan. 21, records obtained by WDRB News show JCPS teachers have written just 218 referrals for student misbehavior during nontraditional instruction.

JCPS Superintendent Marty Pollio had previously suggested reopening elementary classrooms by the third week of March and operating middle and high schools on hybrid learning schedules by the first week of April immediately after spring break.

Jefferson County Teachers Association President Brent McKim said Monday that those vaccinated through the city’s LouVax program before Feb. 1 were not automatically registered for second vaccination appointments. The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness transitioned to a digital scheduling and management system called Salesforce on that date, according to spokesperson Karl Bullock.

The ultimate reopening decision will rest with the Jefferson County Board of Education, which met Tuesday to continue discussions on the district’s plan to resume in-person instruction.