Daviess County Public Schools will return to the classroom in two phases in mid-January, officials announced Monday afternoon. All DCPS students will resume remote learning Jan. 5. Elementary and middle schools will then return to the A/B hybrid schedule on Jan. 11, with high schools returning to A/B on Jan. 19.
According to a letter from Superintendent Matt Robbins, all students previously enrolled in the Virtual Academy may continue that option or may transition to A/B when the second semester begins on Jan. 19. Similarly, children may transfer from the A/B mode of learning to the Virtual Academy.
Parents/guardians are asked to notify their principal of their intent to transition students from Virtual Academy to A/B by Jan. 8. The email address formula for DCPS staff members is [email protected].
To enroll in the Virtual Academy, send an email to [email protected] with student name, grade and school, and parent/guardian contact information.
“This plan provides two weeks of time beyond the Christmas holiday (with its potential for increased virus exposure) before returning elementary/middle school students to in-person learning; and an additional two weeks beyond the New Year holiday before returning high school students to in-person learning,” a statement from Robbins reads. “… This plan allows DCPS to comply with the Healthy at School executive order that was released on Friday, Dec. 18, while also responding to the need for offering in-person instruction as much as possible for our students.”
If there is inclement weather on an A/B day that would have traditionally resulted in a “snow day,” NTI will be implemented for all grades unless otherwise communicated by DCPS.
Owensboro Public Schools
Owensboro Public Schools will not return to the classroom until at least Jan. 14, officials announced Friday. Officials said they will remain virtual to finish the first semester, which officially ends Jan. 13, 2021.
According to the announcement on Facebook, “We just received the Governor’s newest Executive Order and will analyze it before making a decision about the start of the second semester which begins Thursday, January 14, 2021.”
Local private schools
Owensboro Catholic Schools, St. Mary of the Woods and Trinity High schools, as well as Heritage Christian School and Grace Christian Academy, have all announced plans to return in full to in-person learning Jan. 5.
New and old executive orders
The original restrictions on in-person learning expire Jan. 4, but a new executive order issued Friday by Gov. Andy Beshear recommends waiting until at least Jan. 11 to return to the classroom.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday declined a request to block the previous order suspending in-person classes at private and public schools across the state, in part because of timing.
The new order includes certain requirements for public schools, but the order only serves a recommendation for private schools.
Those requirements include following the state’s Healthy at School guidelines and following the Mode of Instruction Metrics for K-12 Education.
The order also requires that every public school provide meaningful virtual options that cannot negatively impact students’ academic standing, including access to advance placement courses as well as opportunities to complete required career and technical education.
Additionally, schools returning to in-person instruction must accommodate all high-risk employees who request an alternative or virtual work assignment.
