WEBSTER COUNTY, Ky. (WEHT) — The Webster County School Board voted down Beshear’s recommendation to delay the start of in-person classes, and the district will begin in-person classes on August 31.
The school board voted 4-1 against the plan. The district’s reopening plan has three options for students: in-person two days a week, virtual learning and remote.
Board member Venita Murphy said the district initially thought they couldn’t go against Governor Andy Beshear’s recommendation, but the district learned they can.
Murphy says she believes Beshear should have mandated the delay.
“He mandated everyone wear masks, so why didn’t he mandate then that there would be no school?” Murphy said. “Why would you put us in the same category that you put Louisville and Lexington and Frankfort? We’re not that, we’re a small community.”
The district had announced on August 11 that all teachers will teach remote classes to begin the school year on August 31. On August 10, Governor Andy Beshear recommended all Kentucky schools to wait to begin in-person instruction until at least September 28.
On August 12, Superintendent Rhonda Callaway posted “I honestly did not know it was an option to go against the Governor and the Commissioner until other districts began to question and push back. I have reached out to our local Health Department and to Clay Horton, the Director of the Green River Health Department to get their input.”
Clay Horton, the Director of the Green River District Health Department, went over COVID-19 statistics and data with the board before the decision.
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(This story was originally published on Aug. 18, 2020)
