Winter weather has already made a significant impact on school calendars in the region, with many students staying home or districts using planned remote learning days.
Jefferson County Public Schools sent a letter to families Thursday saying that non-traditional instruction will be used "when possible this year" instead of canceling school in the event of winter weather.
Records obtained by WDRB News show more than 30 schools and programs lagged JCPS participation rate averages each day during the nine days of remote learning in the first two months of 2022.
Classrooms at JCPS reopened for the first time in two weeks Monday after the district transitioned to nontraditional instruction as several hundred teachers and staff were sent into quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 or coming into close contact with someone infected by the coronavirus.
Superintendent Marty Pollio said in a video message to families Friday that the district’s plan for the upcoming week would be based on its COVID-19 data to “make sure that we can hold school safely.”
Jefferson County Public Schools will decide Sunday whether to reopen classrooms or continue with remote learning, the district said Friday.
“We realize this is an inconvenience to many and this decision was not made lightly,” the district’s letter says. “… We will re-evaluate the situation as the week progresses. Please continue to check your emails for the latest updates.”
With 692 staff members out due to COVID-19-related reasons Monday afternoon, the district made the call to spend a second week learning virtually.
JCPS, one of several Kentucky school districts that have used nontraditional instruction or closed entirely recently amid the latest surge in COVID-19 cases, announced the decision Monday in a letter to families obtained by WDRB News.
One of the key points of Senate Bill 25 is that each individual school building would get the 10 virtual days.