Most schools to remain virtual until January
Kentucky School Advocate
December 2020
By Brenna R. Kelly
Staff writer
As schools in the Commonwealth remained closed to in-person learning, Gov. Andy Beshear gave educators some hope that the end of the pandemic is near.
Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack and Education Commissioner Jason Glass on Dec. 4 held a virtual meeting with all superintendents to ask them to prepare rosters of school employees who are willing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“We want to make sure that our educators get the priority that they deserve,” Beshear said. “So, we can get back to as close as we can to normal as quickly as possible.”
Teachers are expected to be in line for the vaccine behind healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities, he said. The state expects to receive 38,000 doses of the Pfizer two-dose vaccine by Dec. 15. Although that won’t be enough for everyone in the first round, he said the state expects nearly 150,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine by the end of December.
“Help is on the way I can’t tell you exactly when it’s going to come,” Beshear said. “This is going be a hurry up, prepare and wait. But my goodness, the light at the end of the tunnel is brighter than I ever thought it was going to be.”
While there’s no timetable for when teachers and school staff will be able to get the vaccine, Beshear said that he wants districts to be ready so when it arrives, the vaccine can be administered as quickly as possible.
Beshear noted that it’s not only teachers who should get the vaccine, but any staff members who come in direct contact with students should be included on districts’ lists.
“I would encourage you to think about priority based on level and potential level of exposure,” Beshear said. “Certainly, those that come into contact with the most kids have a high level of exposure, the bus drivers are going have a very high level of exposure too so think through that. You know your schools.”
The Kentucky Department of Education is working with the Department of Public Health to create guidance about the vaccine in the coming weeks, Glass said.
“This is great news,” he said to Beshear. “And we really are grateful that you’ve prioritized educators in this process and we will work to be ready when this vaccine is here.”
The good news on the vaccine came as schools remained shuttered to in-person instruction under Beshear’s Nov. 18 executive order. Elementary schools in counties not designated as red on the state’s Dec. 3 COVID-19 incidence map were allowed to reopen on Dec. 7 as long as they followed all of the expectations in the state’s Healthy at School guidance. Just seven counties met that standard, and of the eight districts in those counties, three decided to bring elementary students back to the classroom.
As of Dec. 9, at least 41 districts had decided to keep all students virtual until after Winter Break. Under the executive order, middle and high schools may return to in-person learning on Jan. 4.
Beshear said on Dec. 8 that he expects to allow some type of in-person instruction in January, even in counties that are in the red on the incidence map. It will look different “with fewer kids in the classroom and virtual options for those who choose it,” he said. He said guidance would be released the week of Dec. 14.
If schools hold in-person classes while community spread remains high “we have to make sure that the teachers, the educators in that building have real options, real choice, on whether they participate virtually or not and have accommodations, especially if they have conditions that would put them significantly at risk.”
Vaccine requirements?
Kentucky Department of Education Attorney Todd Allen said that the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission has said that employers can require the influenza vaccine as long as they provide for disability and religious accommodations.
“The example that we had was influenza, but we think the same logic would apply to a COVID-19 vaccine,” Allen said.
The EEOC asks employers to strongly encourage their employees to be vaccinated and to lead by example. Beshear noted that his office will not mandate anyone take the vaccine.