FRANKFORT, Ky. — After a surge in reported COVID-19 cases, students in Franklin County won’t attend class in person until at least Sept. 7.
What You Need To Know
- Franklin County Schools is going back NTI due to COVID-19
- There were 91 positive cases and 610 students in quarantine as of Friday, according to data posted on the district’s dashboard
- The district will begin offering a weekly free COVID-19 testing site when they return to in-person
- According to Kentucky School Board Association, at least 10 Kentucky school districts have now closed for COVID-19
The presence of COVID-19 continues to impact education in Franklin County.
It's less than three weeks into second grade, and Shelby Martin’s daughter is already back home after being exposed to COVID-19.
"We got a call from the school that she was exposed to a student that was tested positive for COVID-19 and they said that she has to be picked up immediately," Martin explained.
After her daughter went virtual during part of last school year, Martin thought remote learning was over, but now she’s back in the same place.
"I know personally with my daughter she just thrives in person. She really struggled with the virtual, but at the same time you kind of have to do your part to do what’s right to keep everybody else healthy," Martin said.
In updated data posted on the district’s dashboard Friday night, there are 91 positive cases and 610 students in quarantine.
Mark Kopp, Superintendent of Franklin County Schools, said the district is in a tricky situation.
"We’re in a very difficult situation with COVID-19 and it has made us really analyze the data and force us to make a very difficult decision," Kopp said.
During a virtual meeting, he and Deputy Superintendent Sharla Six updated parents on the district’s mitigation plans.
"We are going to take next week as all of those five days, Monday through Friday are going to be NTI days.," they said.
Once in-person learning returns, the district will begin offering a weekly free COVID-19 testing site.
District officials said they're following protocol, adding that they have every intention to keep campuses open.
"We really want more than anything to have in person instruction throughout the course of the year. So, we really do need your assistance in helping make that happen," Kopp said.
In the meantime, Martin hopes the numbers level off and supports the district being cautious with her daughter.
"I hope this week that the numbers are able to go down and that there can be some improvement that way we can get these kids back in school," Martin said.
According to Kentucky School Board Association, at least 10 Kentucky school districts have now closed for COVID-19 since the start of the 2021-2022 academic year.