LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Student-athletes in Louisville's public school system can begin winter sports practices immediately, bringing a sense of normalcy and an outlet back to teens couped up in houses during a 10-month absence from classrooms.

Tuesday's 5-2 decision by the Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) Board of Education arrives as Jefferson County is considered at more than double the threshold to be considered "critical" for positive cases.

"The cases are quadruple what they were back in August when we were talking about outdoor sports," said board member Dr. Chris Kolb, who opposed the motion to allow sports to resume.

"I honestly don’t even understand why we’re considering going forward with sports. It’s not safe for our community. We’re gonna be adding to the death toll if we go forward with this. I mean, there’s just no question about that," he added.

Fellow board member James Craig supported the measure but said he understood the position in which the school board found itself.

"Every decision that we’re making this year is hard," Craig said during debate over the motion. "Our students are the only students, it seems, in the state who are not able to participate in a winter sport. Private school kids are doing it, catholic school kids are doing it."

Before the meeting, Spectrum News spoke with JCPS Health Services Manager Dr. Eva Stone and asked if the district was rushing to bring sports back before a plan to safely return to classrooms could be formalized.

"Our board has been very diligent about studying and monitoring that too," she said. "And there’s not a good answer for anyone in this. What our kids are seeing modeled right now is professional and college sports that have figured it out, and they have lots more money than most K-12 education. And, so, that makes it a challenge."

Stone added that every county is weighing what is best for them and that consideration will need to be continual.

STAFF VACCINATION

Before the vote on winter sports, Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio explained the district's plan to begin vaccinating staff members on Friday.

Beginning with elementary schools in alphabetical order by school name, Pollio expects to inoculate 1,200 staff per day and reach all 13,000+ employees by the first week of March.

Between everyone's first shots and boosters, Pollio said, he intends to present an initial back-to-school plan.