November 19, 2020
Dear Lawrence County Family,
As many of you know, Governor Andy Beshear provided multiple declarations pertaining to the operations of schools through an executive order last night. At this point, most of Governor Beshear’s school-related declarations have been made as recommendations for schools. While we are strongly encouraged to follow recommendations made by the Governor, an executive order has the force and effect of law. During his press conference yesterday, Governor Beshear discussed the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases within the Commonwealth and provided the executive order as a means to fight the spread of the virus. Here are the impacts of Executive Order 2020-969 on Lawrence County Schools:
- Grades 6-12 will remain in our “at-home” learning settings at least through January 4th.
- Grades P-5 MAY move to “at-school” learning on December 7, 2020, IF AND ONLY IF we move out of the “RED” status on the state incidence map. (Map website: https://govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19)
- We will continue with small group in-person targeted services (tutoring) that most of our schools have already implemented. These services are referenced in guidance from the Governor and the Kentucky Department for Public Health issued in September. (Guidance website: https://education.ky.gov/comm/Documents/FINAL%20DPH%20KDE%20COVID-19%20Mode%20of%20Instruction%20Metrics%20for%20K-12%20Education%209-12-20.pdf)
- Our food service and transportation staff members will NOT deliver food while we are on holiday breaks, but we will continue to provide meals on all other weekdays based on the school calendar.
- Thanksgiving Break: November 25-27.
- Christmas/New Year Break: December 21-January 1
- Calendar Website: https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/894491/Updated_2020-2021_School_Calendar.pdf
While our main goal is to educate students and to have them back in our classrooms, we must also address our extra-curricular activities. The KHSAA Board of Controls, who governs Kentucky high school athletics, met yesterday to make decisions on the start of the winter sports season. At this point, here are the guidelines that we have been given:
- Football playoffs may proceed. We are limiting the ticket sales to 20% of capacity of our stadium seating. (LC takes on Pike Central TONIGHT at 7 PM. Go DAWGS!)
- Middle and high school winter sports seasons (basketball, cheer, dance, and others) may begin competing on January 4, 2021. At this point, seating capacities for indoor events have been limited to 15% of the seating capacity of the gymnasium. This could change as we move forward.
- Academic teams, JROTC, and others will compete only if their governing bodies/leagues allow.
- We are awaiting specific guidance on team practices.
In summary, school systems receive recommendations and/or restrictions from the Governor and other governing bodies such as KHSAA. These recommendations/restrictions are based on their research of what is considered safe for the students of Kentucky. We will continue to follow all restrictions and recommendations. When permitted, we will use local data to make other decisions. At this point, the next decision for “in-person” learning for elementary schools ONLY will be provided by December 3rd. All middle and high schools will remain in “at-home” learning until January 4, 2021.
In closing, this can be tough times for our students. If your child needs tutoring or counseling services, please contact your child’s teacher or school administration. While we strive to provide the best education possible for your child, we want to provide for their mental health, also. Do not hesitate to call us if we can help in any way. With the utmost sincerity, we miss having your child in class.
As always, thank you for being…
All In,
Robbie L. Fletcher, EdD
The Governor’s Executive Order 2020-969 can be found at the following website: https://governor.ky.gov/attachments/20201118_Executive-Order_2020-969_State-of-Emergency.pdf
Thank god we will still have sports. I mean I can roam around Louisa and see how responsible people are wearing their masks. I mean you do just wear it over your mouth right? Get a clue people. This is not gonna go away until people start following the guidelines. It’s all well and good to be an a-hole about this until one of your family members get deathly ill or die from it. Then what do you say? Oh I guess I should have done better. Well do better now. It’s not about politics it’s about life and the safety of you and others. Gotta bring in that sports money though.
they have swallowed the Trump Kool Aid
hard to tell people to do something when they have been brain washed into it’s not real
they just have to learn the hard way
You’re right SJ! Gee, I love living in a communist country!
I am so tired of those of you who just don’t understand. It isn’t someone mandating you wear red every Thursday. What is being asked is that you do a simple thing to protect your life and others. What is the big deal. There are lots of rules like this that you obey, it is just something that hS to be done. You wear loathes to Walmart because the law tells you that you can’t be in public naked, is that a communist move? The sooner we all cooperate the sooner this will be over
Just keep telling yourself that.
The only way to get our county out of the red zone is to wear a mask when you are out in public, wash your hands, and stay home instead of running around like things are normal. They aren’t! Our kids need to be back in school and they can’t go until the adults in Lawrence County take a little more responsibility. And yeah that means you need to wear a mask when you go in Walmart. I’m tired of hearing how YOU have medical conditions that stop YOU from wearing a mask …. coz it sure doesn’t stop you from lighting up a cigarette when you walk back out to your car! Just be adults and do what the health department asks you to do!!!!