LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Parents demanding schools open will soon have their choice to return, assuming Jefferson County Public School's (JCPS) Thursday school board decision looks like HB 208, which passed Wednesday afternoon and requires Kentucky schools to begin offering in-person classes in March.

What You Need To Know

  • HB 208 passed Wednesday afternoon and requires Kentucky schools to begin offering in-person classes in March

  • Jefferson County Public Schools Board member James Craig said a decision on whether or not to reopen schools has essentially just been made for the board

  • Emilie Blanton from the Jefferson County Teachers Association said her educators want to come back but to do it right

  • Blanton said the plan is to begin with elementary schools and slowly open by age

In an interview with Spectrum News 1 seconds after HB 208 passed, JCPS Board member James Craig said a decision on whether or not to reopen schools had essentially just been made for the board.

"Between today’s legislative activity and yesterday’s executive order, the question of whether or not the buildings will be open has now been resolved," he said. "All efforts need to be focused now on how we do it safely."

Craig was already a likely "yes" vote on accepting Superintendent Marty Pollio's reopening plan.

His colleague, Chris Kolb, said he was unsure before HB 208's passed.

"If it’s a plan that resembles something we have seen up to this point, then I have to vote 'no' to be in line with CDC guidance," he said.

In late January, Kolb staunchly opposed the board's vote to allow sports teams to resume practice and competition.

He reiterated his stance during an interview with Spectrum News 1 and said further CDC guidance suggests athletics should be shut down immediately.

When it came to returning to classrooms, Kolb said he will be "looking for reasons to say 'yes'" when the board convenes Thursday evening, but he said it will take some convincing.

As CDC data continues to show, children get sick from the COVID-19 virus far less often than adults. Teachers will bear the major health risks in schools.

Emilie Blanton from the Jefferson County Teachers Association said her educators — now mostly vaccinated — want to come back but to do it right.

"One of the things I hear from a lot of teachers is that they’re ready for some type of return," she said. "They just want to do it safe and smooth, because one of the things we don’t want to happen (is) for us to do all of this – move heaven and earth to get into the building — and then just immediately shut down again."

Blanton said the plan is to begin with elementary schools and slowly open by age. It could take a full month for a district-wide return.

Spectrum News 1 spoke with Blanton on Oct. 20. Kentucky had just reached a 5% positivity rate for the first time in two months. During the interview, she was frustrated with some Kentuckians demanding schools reopen, despite her seeing crowds of people refusing to wear masks and responsibly distance themselves from others. 

Kentucky's positivity rate dropped below 6% on Wednesday for the first time this year. Four months after the interview with Spectrum News1, Blanton had a similar message.

"We really need the community to step in," she implored. "Don’t go to bars and drink all night and not wear your mask."

It's a simple request from someone trying to see her students for the first time in a full year. But it's a request that has also been ignored by many over that time.

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