A number of school districts are heeding Governor Andy Beshear’s request to shut down for at least two weeks starting Monday.
Beshear made the recommendation Thursday as a response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic.
Beshear is asking for all schools—public and private—to close for a minimum of two weeks.
Kentucky’s two largest school districts, Jefferson and Fayette, announced last night they would be closed.
Some of the other county school systems that have also announced they will close are Barren, Daviess, Hardin, Larue, Pulaski, and Warren.
Some of the independent city school districts that will close include Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, and Glasgow.
Many school districts will actually be out at least three straight weeks—since several have a planned week of spring break following the two weeks they’ll be closed for coronavirus precautions.
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Warren County and Bowling Green public schools are remaining open as administrators and community leaders get continuous updates on the coronavirus issue.
One staff member at a Warren County elementary school is self-isolating.
Warren County and Bowling Green Public Schools are coordinating their response to the coronavirus and, for now, schools will remain open.
Warren County Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton said in a news conference Thursday that schools in both districts consider it important to keep children in the classroom, especially because of concerns for working parents.
Clayton said many parents are healthcare workers, and are needed to keep medical facilities adequately staffed during the coronavirus crisis.
Another consideration for keeping students in the classroom is unequal access to the internet for off-site instruction.
Bowling Green Independent Schools will be closed Friday, March 13, as previously planned for a professional development day.
Warren County Schools are scheduled to be out of school March 19-20.
The principal at North Warren Elementary in Smith’s Grove confirmed that one staff member is self-isolating due to being in a venue with someone who may have tested positive for COVID-19. That self-isolation is out of extreme caution and the school district is in contact with the health department about that issue.
Warren County Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton said area educators are continuing preparations, based on the governor’s announcement to be ready in case schools have to close down on 72 hours’ notice.
Owensboro Public Schools have regular classes for the remainder of this week. However, all afterschool activities, including the Fine Arts Festival, are cancelled through Friday, March 13. That includes practices, events and other activities that include large groups of people outside the student population.
The cancellation of the afterschool activities is to limit any possible impact of coronavirus to vulnerable members of the wider community.
Daviess County Public Schools, meanwhile, are open as usual.
