LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio said "NTI 2.0" is full speed ahead, and that all 30,000 additional Chromebooks ordered are ready to be handed out, adding to the 20,000 distributed in the spring.

The JCPS school board last month voted to begin the fall semester fully online for at least six weeks.

"Looking back on it, we’re confident we’re making the right decision on this one," Pollio said at a Wednesday press conference. "Many districts have followed us since that time."

On Monday, August 10, the district’s website will launch a portal for families to apply for Chromebooks and hotspots. They can also call 502-313-HELP (4357) for assistance with that application or other issues. We asked Pollio and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Carmen Coleman about considerations for families with special needs.

"We are exploring, as I said last night, opportunities on learning hubs," Pollio said. "This would be for all students – not just special needs – and it would be voluntary."

"Our schools will be working together in the next couple weeks to decide what other kinds of resources or materials our students might need," Coleman added. "And they’ll be working with families to distribute those."

After the six week run, Pollio and the school board will determine if it is safe to return to classrooms. Pollio says he’ll likely need to see a drop in the virus positivity rate to recommend in-person schooling in 2020.

"New research is showing that 10-to-19-year-olds spread at the same rate that adults do, and nearly every school in JCPS has a 10-to-19-year-old within the school. So, you know, I really think we’re gonna have to see a decrease in that positivity rate."

JCPS says, in addition to possible learning hubs, classes will be designed to be more interactive authentic than in older versions of NTI. All JCPS families are encouraged to update their information on the district’s website and apply for any hardware or assistance they might need.