Beech Tree News Network

A lengthy called meeting of the Butler County Board of Education last night has resulted in a September 14 start date for in-person instruction for Butler County Schools.  The decision is a reversal from the recommendation made by Gov. Beshear, which called for in-person instruction not to begin until at least September 28.  The district initially indicated it would follow the governor’s recommendation before changing course.  

Superintendent Robert Tuck said he was pleased with the Board’s decision to move forward with a September 14 start for in-person instruction.

“Our school board should be commended for the vote they made last night,” said Tuck.  “I am very proud of how our community stakeholders worked in building community consensus around our 2020-2021 Reopening Playbook.  We may not have agreed on everything but did build consensus and everyone had 100 percent consensus in doing what is best for our students.”

According to Tuck, the school community has approached reopening “objectively and systematically.” 

The process included a reentry committee of 38 stakeholders, multiple questionnaires (over 5,700 responses), and approval from the local health department of the district’s back-to-school plans (including the Healthy to School Guidelines)

“Our plan has given our students and parents a choice and pathways to determine what path best fits their individual needs,” said Tuck.  “We have also created a light system that helps guide us through potential changesand shifts that we know we will have to make during this 2020-2021 school year.”

With the Board’s Thursday night decision, the instructional format beginning September 14 will be a hybrid A/B type schedule where approximately half the students of each school will be attending classes in person on specified days.  Fall school sports were also given the green light locally with stringent KHSAA procedures and policies in place.  Winter sports may also resume conditioning workouts.  Fan attendance at fall sporting events is going to be significantly regulated and restricted.  

Regarding the resumption of in-person instruction, the Butler County School District released the following statement early Friday via social media:

--Approving the movement of our current RED system to YELLOW. This means students will follow an A/B In-Person Schedule effective September 14th.  All students who are on the in-person format will attend school (2) days a week beginning 9/14/20. The students will continue NTI Google Classroom the remaining (3) days of the week. Those following the Virtual track will continue to be Virtual as they chose. (Pending meeting with the Education Commissioner).

--Approving Fall athletics to begin; utilizing the KHSAA procedure and policies for a safe return. (Virtual students MAY participate)

--Approving winter sports practices/conditioning to begin; utilizing KHSAA procedure and policies for a safe return. (Virtual students MAY participate)

--For the in-person students. A list of students will come out Monday showing which group they will be attending school with. The AB format ensures smaller groups of students allowing for greater social distancing.

A Group will attend Mondays and Tuesdays

B Group will attend Thursdays and Fridays

Wednesday will be utilized for cleaning, teacher online planning and small group student and parent meetings where needed.

Regarding fall school sports, Butler County Athletics’ Director Brandon Embry said the KHSAA is in the process of releasing detailed information regarding fall sports and requirements for fans to follow.  According to Embry, fan attendance will start at 20 percent capacity of the bleachers for both indoor and outdoor facilities.  

“I am happy for our kids that we get the opportunity to continue on with sports but we have to do it safely according to the rules,” said Embry.