LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — A group of Fayette County parents is calling on the district to offer an in-person learning option to students as their concerns about children falling behind because of virtual learning continue to grow.
A "Let them Learn" rally was held outside Fayette County Public Schools offices on Monday to urge the district and school board to provide more information about when a return to in-person learning may be possible.
The rally also included participation from some students and teachers supportive of the group's message.
"It's not just a few of us parents, it's a lot of us parents that are seeing the day to day reality of what virtual education is doing to our children," said Jillian Kyde, co-moderator of the Facebook Group, "Let them Learn Fayette County," and a parent to two Liberty Elementary students.
Through the Facebook group, she's heard stories from parents across Fayette County facing different challenges with virtual learning.
One parent at the rally, Tricia Holliday, said her children missed instruction at the beginning of the school year because she had not received a hotspot to provide internet access.
"Them not being able to log in and start the new year and the new grade level it was so frustrating and heartbreaking," Holliday said.
Holliday said has received a hotspot from the district now, but the challenges around virtual learning continue.
"They're literally having to do that at daycare and rely on their selves to log in, stay focused with a bunch of other kids," she said.
At a Fayette County Public School Board planning meeting Monday, board members discussed the need to communicate with district parents about how decisions around returning to school will be made.
Superintendent Manny Caulk said the district must consider everyone who would be impacted by a return to school.
"Our bus drivers, bus monitors, child nutrition workers, teachers, paraeducators, they have one life. And so I want to make sure that we have everything in place in our schools and processes," he said.
A decision on whether to return to in-person learning in some form will be made at the board meeting on September 28.
If a decision to move forward with in-person class is made that day, the earliest students would return to schools would two weeks from then.
