FAYETTE COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — Fayette County Public Schools will not be returning to in-person classes in the coming weeks. Instead, at their meeting Monday night, the board decided to move forward with offering targeted services like tutoring in late October.
Some board members expressed frustration over how district plans have been communicated and called for more transparency.
Superintendent Manny Caulk began Monday night's board meeting by saying the district was moving forward with a plan for hybrid instruction to begin in late October until last week. That was when the county was in the "orange zone" for COVID-19 cases.
As of Thursday, Fayette County was in the "red zone."
"With this designation, we felt like, you know, maybe a little more risk-averse and wanting to listen to the guidance of the governor and Dr. Stack," said Superintendent Caulk.
So he recommended the district begin offering "targeted services" to elementary students beginning October 19th. Targeted services will allow students struggling with virtual learning to come into the building for a short time for assistance.
A move the board eventually decided to approve unanimously, but not without hours of discussion and frustration.
Board member Tyler Murphy called for more information on a plan.
"If the people on the ground who are going to be responsible a) for implementing this and making sure it's successful and serves the need of every child in our community and b) who are going to be in a large extent risking their lives and their family's lives, it's alarming if they don't know the details," said Murphy.
While other board members stressed a need to give parents and teachers a date to plan for, the board has called for a detailed plan on the district's targeted services by October 12th. They've also called for a detailed plan on a hybrid instruction model by October 26th. Members said they'd consider beginning elementary students in the hybrid option in November.
