JCPS Returns to In-Person Learning

Future school decisions will be a day-by-day determination

January 24, 2022 – Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) returned to in-person learning today following two weeks of remote instruction and will continue in-school instruction on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Future school decisions will continue to be a day-by-day determination, Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio cautioned. 

“We would like to say that we’re back in person and we will remain that way, but I cannot say that at this time,” Pollio said. “We’re going to have to look on a day-to-day basis.”

Click here to watch Dr. Pollio’s remarks.

On Sunday the district announced that the number of staff testing positive or quarantining for COVID-19 had decreased to the point that schools could safely resume in-person classes today. But with all indications pointing to two to three more weeks of surging cases as a result of the omicron variant, JCPS will continue to monitor numbers on a daily basis to determine if students can learn in person or virtually, Pollio said.

The district has two remaining Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) days, of the 10 approved by the Kentucky legislature, and an additional 10 remote learning days that cannot be used on a districtwide basis. JCPS is looking at ways to use the remote learning days so if certain schools or levels are impacted by staff absences more than others, the district can move those sites to virtual learning while others remain in person, Pollio added.

“We encourage families to continue to be prepared on a daily basis and to be able to go remote if necessary,” Pollio said. “But we are hoping at this point that it would only be a one-day or two-day stay in remote, and we would still have some students in person.”

At Carter Traditional Elementary School, students and staff alike were excited to be together for the first time in 17 days. 

“Good morning, good morning! Welcome back!” said Carter second grade teacher Nicole Brown, greeting students as they exited their bus. 

Brown said she was especially excited to see her second-graders, whose entire school experience has been impacted by the pandemic. “It’s important they be here because we are meeting them where they are, and bringing them where they need to be,” Brown said, “so it’s really important for them to attend school every day.”

That’s a sentiment echoed by Pollio.

“I was proud of the NTI work, but we all know that nothing replaces that in-person learning,” Pollio said. “Our goal is to get our kids back in person, always, as soon as we possibly can.”