WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC BACK-TO-SCHOOL ISSUES.

JUST A FEW HOURS AGO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR ANNOUNCED NEW K THROUGH 12 SCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHEN KIDS HEAD BACK TO THE CLASSROOM NEXT MONTH.

STATE OFFICIALS CITED THE CHALLENGE OF MITIGATING THE SPREAD OF THE DELTA VARIANT FOR THE MASK RECO WE'LL DETAIL THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS IN JUST A MINUT THERE IS NO STATEWIDE MANDATE, AND HOW SCHOOLS OPERATE THIS FALL WILL BE LEFT UP TO LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.

TO DISCUSS ALL OF THIS, WE ARE JOINED IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO BY: CARRIE BALLINGER, SUPERINTENDENT OF ROCKCASTLE COUNTY SCHOOLS.

JASON GLASS, COMMISSIONER OF THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIO EDDIE CAMPBELL, PRESIDENT OF TH KENTUCKY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

MARTY POLLIO, SUPERINTENDENT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PENNY CHRISTIAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF LEADERSHIP OUTREAC FOR THE KENTUCKY PTA.

IN OUR FRANKFORT STUDIO WE HAVE ERIC KENNEDY, DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY FOR THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARDS .

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DENIED THERE IN OUR FRANKFORT STUDIO.

LET'S START WITH THE NEWS OF THE DAY, COMMISSIONER GLASS BECAUSE YOU WERE WITH THE PRESSER WITH THE GOVERNOR AT 4:00 EASTERN TIME, AND I'M JUST GOING TO RECITE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONSING WITH THREE MAIN POINTS THAT WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY AND THEY SAY, SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD REQUIRE ALL UNVACCINATED STUDENTS AND UNVACCINATED ADULTS TO WEAR A MASK WHEN IN CLASSROOMS AND OTHER INDOOR SCHOOL SETTINGS.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD REQUIRE ALL STUDENTS UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE TO WEAR A MASK WHEN IN LAST ROOMS AND OTHER INDOOR SCHOOL SETTINGS.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS WISHING TO OPTIMIZE SAFETY AND MINIMIZE RISK OF EDUCATIONAL AND ATHLETICS DISRUPTION THUD RARELY STUDENTS AND ALL ADULTS TO WEAR A MASK WHILE IN CLASSROOMS AND OTHER INDOOR SCHOOL SETTINGS.

SO IT SEEMS, COMMISSIONER GLASS, THAT THE GOVERNOR STOPPED SHORT OF A MANDATE, BUT HE DIDN'T DIRECTLY RULE THAT OUT, RIGHT?

THAT HE COULD DECIDE MORE STRINGENT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COULD BECOME MANDATES ARE NOT OFF THE TABLE.

>> THROUGH THE RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR KNOWS THAT OUR SCHOOLS WERE SUCCESSFUL AT MITIGATING COVID-19 THIS PAST SPRING, AND KEEPING SCHOOLS FROM BEING POINTS OF TRANSMISSION IN COMMUNITIES, OUR SCHOOLS KNOW WHAT TO DO, THEY'VE PROVEN THAT.

OUR STUDENTS CAN MANAGE THE VIRUS MITIGATION STRATEGIES THAT WERE IN PLACE THIS PAST SPRING.

WE DO HAVE NEW GUIDANCE OUT FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND OUR OWN KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH THAT'S BUILT ON THAT AND GUIDANCE FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRIC.

THEY PRIORITIZE IN-PERSON LEARNING, SO THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

THEY ARE ALL POINTING TOWARD THE IMPORTANCE OF IN-PERSON LEARNING.

AND THEY ALL RELY OUR KNOWLEDGING CITIZENS, STAFF MEMBERS, STUDENTS TO GET VACCINATED AS QUAKES POSSIBLE.

AND THEN THE LAYERING OF SEVERAL VIRUS MITIGATION STRATEGIES AFTER THAT THAT INCLUDES MASKING AS ONE OF THOSE EFFORTS.

>> SO WHAT THE GOVERNOR NOUN TODAY IS IN LINE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HUBBLE PUBLIC HEALTH AND CDC.

IT IS NOT MORE STRINGENT.

IT IS LINE WITH WHAT THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED, RIGHT?

>> THE CD HAS INCLUDED A RECOMMENDATION THAT MASKS SHOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR UNVACCINATED INDIVIDUALS, WHICH AT THIS TIME WOULD INCLUDE ALL STUDENTS UNDER 12.

>> AGE 12.

>> THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH WENT A STEP FURTHER AND SAID THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHOULD CONSIDER UNIVERSAL MASKING, AND THAT'S IN LINE WITH THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS THAT RECOGNIZED THE OF DETERMINING WHO IS VACCINATED AND WHO ISN'T IN A SCHOOL SETTING.

SO WHAT WE HAVE IS ALL OF THOSE PIECES OF GUIDANCE COME TOGETHER, AND THE GOVERNOR REALLY WORKING TO PROVIDE SOMETHING THAT WAS CLEAR AND DIRECT FOR SCHOOL LEADERS TO FOLLOW.

>> SO CAN SCHOOLS EITHER, ONE, REQUIRE VACCINATIONS OR, TWO, REQUIRE PROOF OF VACCINATIONS?

>> PRESENTLY I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY SCHOOLS THAT ARE REQUIRING VACCINATION.

WE MAY NEED AN ATTORNEY ON TO DETERMINE IF THAT'S LEGAL OR NOT BUT I HAVE HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY SCHOOLS THAT ARE GOING AS FAR AS REQUIRING THAT OF THEIR STAFF OR THEIR STUDENTS.

>> I'LL ASK ERIC KENNEDY THAT IN JUST A MOMENT.

WILL THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, COULD YOU AS A BOARD OR COULD THE BOARD AND THE DEPARTMENT ADOPT MORE STRINGENT REGULATIONS IN THE FUTURE?

COULD YOU DO THAT UNILATERALLY?

>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF WAYS THAT A MANDATE COULD COME INTO BEING.

PRESENTLY I DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO JUST DECLARE HERE IS HOW YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT.

WE DON'T JUST MAKE THINGS UP AT THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

I'M BOUND BY THE AUTHORITY THAT'S GRANTED TO OUR AGENCY UNDER LAW, SO THERE ARE TWO WAYS THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN, ONE IS THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FROM THE GOVERNOR WHICH WE EXPERIENCED LAST YEAR.

THE SECOND IS THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION COULD PROMULGATE OR MOVE TO THAT REGULATIONS, EITHER IN AN EMERGENCY SORT IN A REGULAR FASHION ON THIS.

SO FAR -- >> BUT THEY WOULD BE SUBJECT TO LEGISLATIVE REVIEW AND APPROVAL.

>> YES.

AND IF IT WAS AN EMERGENCY REGULATION, IT WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR.

>> SO ALSO TESTING REAL QUICKLY BEFORE I BRING IN THE OTHERS.

THERE WAS SOME GUIDANCE ON TESTING OR WHERE DO WE STAND ON TESTING IN K THROUGH 12 SCHOOLS?

>> WELL, WE HAVE A TESTING WIDELY AVAILABLE IN COMMUNITY PUBLIC HEALTH AND PRIVATE HEALTH LOCATIONS FLOUT THE STATE AND DR. STACK AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH HAVE ALSO STARTED A PROGRAM THROUGH A FEDERAL GRANT TO MAKE TESTING MORE WIDELY AVAILABLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR STUDENTS, SO WE HAVE 13 SITES THAT DR. STACK HAS SUPPORTED IN GETTING OFF THE GROUND, AND HE'S WORKING TO EXPAND THAT.

>> AND THAT WOULD BE VOLUNTARY, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> DR. POLLIO, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE ON SET WITH US.

IT'S BEEN REPORTED TODAY, THIS EVENING ACTUALLY, THAT YOU HAVE SENT AN EMAIL TO PARENTS SAYING YOU WOULD RECOMMEND UNIVERSAL MASK REQUIREMENT, NOT UNLIKE WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING WITH THE SUMMER PROGRAMS, IENDS.

SO TELL US YOUR REASONING FOR AND THANK AND HOW YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO GO OVER TOMORROW NIGHT WHEN THAT MIGHT BE BROUGHT UP AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF COVID NEARLY 18 MONTHS AGO, WE MADE A COMMITMENT IN JCPS AND OUR BOARD MADE A COMMITMENT THAT WE WOULD FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAD THE EXPERTISE SO THAT WHETHER THAT WAS THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY WORK LOCAL METRO HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE CDC, AND REALLY WE NOW KNOW THE PERSON ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN -- EXCUSE ME -- AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRICS, AND SO TWO WEEKS AGO WE WERE REALLY THINKING THAT WE HAD NOT GOTTEN ANY GUIDANCE AT THAT TIME, BUT WITHIN THE PAST TWO WEEKS WE HAVE GOTTEN GUIDANCE FROM ALL OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE ESSENTIALLY LINED UP AND SAID THE SAME THING.

SO I'VE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN EPIDEMIOLOGY, BUT WHAT I AM MOST CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT WE MITIGATE THE SPREAD THIS YEAR AND KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.

WE NEED THEM IN SCHOOL.

WE CAN'T HAVE ANOTHER YEAR WHERE THIS WOULD BE THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, SCHOOL YEAR IMPACTED IF WE HAVE WIDESPREAD AND HAVE TO SHUT DOWN, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THE CLEAR EVIDENCE SHOWS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT SPREAD, TWO WAYS, VACCINATION AND MASKING.

WE ARE TAKING SOME OTHER THINGS INTO THAT OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING IN OUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL PLAN, BUT MY ENTIRE FOCUS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE STAY IN-PERSON LEARNING FOR 175 SCHOOL DAYS THIS YEAR.

>> RIGHT.

AND SO WHAT ARE THE METRICS OR THRESHOLD BY WHICH YOU WOULD CHANGE COURSE AND HAVE A HYBRID OR RESORT TO REMOTE LEARNING AGAIN?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T HAVE THAT AUTHORITY AT THIS TIME TO MAKE THAT DECISION, AS DR. GLASS SAID, THAT WOULD REQUIRE SOME OTHER -- AND I GET ASKED THAT QUESTION A LOT.

I'M IN A COMMUNITY WHERE I GET eMAILS FROM BOTH SIDES OFTEN WHO ARE ENCOURAGINGING ME TO NOT HAVE MASK OR TO GO A, HYBRID INSTRUCTION MODEL.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE AUTHORITY.

I'LL SAY IT EVEN THOUGH IT COMINGS WITH A LOT OF PUSHBACK WE WILL BE FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY GIVE US A GUIDANCE.

SO THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IS THE AUTHORITY THAT WE ALWAYS FOLLOW, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE AUTHORITY OF THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> AND OH THAT UNIVERSAL MASK REQUIREMENT WOULD APPLY TO VISITORS AS WELL AS THE STAFF AND STUDENTS.

>>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> ANYONE WHO IS INSIDE.

>>> THAT IS CORRECT.

SO IF WE ARE FOLLOWING THE GUIDANCE WHICH SAYS ALL STUDENTS AND ADULTS, AND WE COULD MAKE THE DECISION, OUR BOARD ON COULD MAKE THE DECISION.

THE CLEAR GUIDANCE IS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND BELOW.

SO ANYONE UNDER 12.

SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE FOR US REALLY ALL GRADE SIX AND BELOW THROUGH PRE-K, AND ALL THE ADULTS AND VISITORS TO A SCHOOL BUILDING.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEN 7 THROUGH 12 WOULD BE VERY AGENCYING FOR A LARGE DISTRICT AND THE GUIDANCE HAS SAID TO US, IF YOU DO HAVE THAT CHALLENGE TRACKING WHO IS VACCINATED AND WHO ISN'T, THAT YOU SHOULD IMPLEMENT UNIVERSAL MASKING.

>> WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE AS FAR AS WHERE YOUR PROPOSAL STANDS FOR THE BOARD?

WHAT SENSE DO YOU HAVE ABOUT WHERE IT MIGHT GO TOMORROW NIGHT?

>> MY SENSE OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND WE'VE BEEN ON THE SAME PAGE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT I BELIEVE OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, OUR FIRST GUIDING PRINCIPLE WAS SAFETY AND HEALTH, AND SO I KNOW OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY AND HEALTH, AND THEN ALSO KEEPING OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL.

SO I ANTICIPATE TO THEM TO SUPPORT THAT PROPOSITION.

>> MANY OF THEM MAY I WANT TO BE ON OPTION, THOUGH, AND NOT NECESSARILY A MANDATE OF SORTS.

WOULD YOU ENTERTAIN THAT AS AN OPTION?

>> ONCE AGAIN, THE BOARD IS THE AUTHORITY THAT GUIDES ME IN WHAT I DO, SO IF THEY DO THAT, THEN I WILL SUPPORT TALK ABOUT I THINK THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE TODAY ENDS UP BEING PRETTY MUCH OFF SLAM DUNK FOR OUR BOARD AND FOR MYSELF BECAUSE WE FROM THE BEGINNING SAID LET'S FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE OF THE HEALTH EXPERTS IN OUR STATE AND NATIONALLY.

>> EARLIER TODAY I CAUGHT UP WITH DAWNE PERKINS WHO IS HEAD OF WHAT IS CALLED LET THEM LEARN IN KENTUCKY, WHICH IS A BRANCH OF THE LET THEM PLAY IN KENTUCKY THAT SHE STARTED BEFORE THAT.

AND SHE IS A GROUP, A FACEBOOK GROUP WHOSE 50-SOMETHING THOUSAND MEMBERS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DIRECTION SCHOOL BOARDS COULD TAKE AND WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID THIS AFTERNOON.

HERE'S OUR CONVERSATION.

>> DAWNE PERKS WITH LET THEM LEARN IN KENTUCKY ORIGINATOR OF LET THEM PLAY IN KENTUCKY THANK YOU FOR A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, RENAIRE, FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS AS SCHOOLS ACROSS THIS STATE RESUME IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.

>>EL WI MEAN THERE'S LOTS OF CONCERNS OBVIOUSLY.

THE VARIANT IS ON THE HIGH-RISE.

BUT MY OVERALL CONCERN AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS THIS IS YEAR THREE OF EDUCATION INTERRUPTION, AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE THE NARRATIVE CHANGES AS THINGS CHANGE, AND I REALIZE THERE IS CHANGE, BUT WE JUST REALLY HAVE GOT TO GET BACK TO THE FOUNDATION AND START MAKING UP THESE 17 MONTHS LOST.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY HAVEN'T LEARNED BUT ANYBODY WOULD AGREE THAT IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR KIDS OF KENTUCKY.

>> SO LET THEM LEARN IN KENTUCKY HAS, WHAT, 50,000 MEMBERS?

>> WE HAVE TWO GROUPS.

WE STARTED WITH LET THEM PLAY BACK IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, AND REALLY JUST WANTED TO CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF CLEAR THE WAY TO GET KIDS MOVING.

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THEIR OVERALL WELL-BEING.

THAT GROUP GREW FROM ZERO TO 30,000 IN TWO AND A HALF DAYS, AND WE JUST KIND OF UNITED TOGETHER AND THEN KIND OF CLEARED THE WAY TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS IN FRANKFORT TO JUST LET THE K DO WHAT THEY NEEDED TOP PD WE WENT TO LEARN.

AND WE'RE VERY PANNING COMBINED WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 51,000 IN THOSE TWO GROUPS, MADE UP MOST LIF PARENTS, A FEW KIDS.

WE HAVE SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVES.

WE -- MEDIA.

WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.

AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO SIMPLY ARE JUST ADVOCATE FOR KIDS.

>> RIGHT.

AND WHAT ARE PARENTS TELLING YOU OR EVEN KIDS TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR?

>> WELL, I THINK THE FIRST THING THEY WANT IS THE CHOICE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE KIND OF HAD A THUMB ON OUR HEAD FOR A WHILE, AND AS WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS BE THESE LAS THE LAST LAST 17 NOZ, THERE'S A LOT MORE INFORMATION OUT THERE AND EVERYBODY'S FORMED A DIFFERENT OPINION AND REALLY THEY JUST WANT THE CHOICE.

THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT'S IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR KIDS AND HAVE A VOICE OR A SEAT AT THE DECISION MAKING TABLE.

>> SO IF THEY DON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK, THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO.

>> THAT'S WEAN OUR FOCUS.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WEAR A MASK, DON'T.

IF YOU WANT TO GET A VACCINE, GET A VACCINE.

IF YOU DON'T, DON'T.

IT'S BEEN UNITED TO GET KIDS BACK IN OVERALL, AND WHEN WE SAY OVERALL WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR MENTAL WELL-BEING OBVIOUSLY AS WELL AS ACADEMICS.

>> AT THE TIME WE TALKED THIS AFTERNOONY IT HAD BEEN MOMENTS AFTER THE PRESSER WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS AND OTHERS WHO TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

YOUR IMPRESSION ABOUT WHAT YOU HEARD.

WERE YOU SURPRISED?

AND WHAT KIND OF ACTIVISM WILL YOU TAKE ON NOW?

>> WE'LL STAVE ACTIVE IN THE FIGHT.

PROBABLY 30 OR 40 DISTRICTS HAD ALREADY MADE THE DECISION PRIOR TO.

THEY LEFT IT OPEN TO DETERMINE THAT, YOU KNOW, FLEXIBILITY ONCE THE GOVERNOR SPOKE TODAY, BUT I'M CONFIDENT THAT A LOT OF DISTRICTS WILL CONTINUE ON WITH THEIR PLAN BECAUSE THEY'VE TALKED TO THEIR INSTITUTES, THEY'VE TALKED TO THEIR FAMILIES AND NOT JUST ONE TIME.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND THEY'LL CONTINUE ON BECAUSE THESE KIDS HAVE IN VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, THEY'VE BEEN ON VACATIONS, THEY'VE BEEN, YOU KNOW, IN PLAYING FIELDS, YOUTH BALL SPORTS -- I MEAN PARKS, FRIENDS.

THEY'VE BEEN AROUND EACH OTHER ALL SUMMER LONG.

SO I THINK THAT WE'LL STILL HAVE A LOT OF DISTRICTS, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE A DISTRICT TO CONTINUE ON TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR KIDS.

>> DAWNE PERKINS, THANK YOU 54 TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Renee: SO I WANT TO GO NOW.

WELCOME, SUPERINTENDENT CARRIE BELINGER.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST NIGHT ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

THANK YOU.

WE KNOW SCHOOL STARTS FOR A LITTLE BIT LATER THAN FOR JEFFERS COUNTY, AUGUST 11 ALONG WITH FAYETTE COUNTY.

YOU GO BACK THE 25th.

>>> YES.

>> SO YOU HAVE A LITTLE MORE TIME TO WORK THROUGH THESE THINGS.

HAS THE BOARD ALREADY ACT OR WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR BOARD IN ROCKCASTLE COUNTY?

>> WE RECOGNIZED THAT THIS IS A VERY FLUID SITUATION.

WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH OUR DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS GROUPS WINDS THE COMMUNITY THAT'S MADE UP OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS.

WE'VE FOUND THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THAT STUDENT VOICE ASPECT ON THAT AS WELL.

WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH OUR BOARD, AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE A VARIABLE CALENDAR THIS YEAR AND THAT WE WILL NOT START SCHOOL UNTIL AUGUST 25th GIVES US JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO BE MONITORING THE SITUATION.

OF COURSE, WE RESPECT WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID TODAY AS WELL AS COMMISSIONER GLASS, AND WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK AND REVISIT THAT WITH OUR STAKEHOLDER GROUP AS WELL AS OUR BOARD OF EDUCATION TO GET INPUT FROM ALL PARTIES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE VALUE THAT LOCAL DECISION MAKING AND WANT TO JUST MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE'RE HEARING ALL OF THE VOICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY IN RESPECTING THOSE VOICES.

WE DO WANT TO FOCUS ON IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.

WE KNOW THAT THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DELIVER INSTRUCTION, AND IF WE'VE LEARNED NOTHING ELSE THROUGH THIS COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WE HAVE LEARNED THE VALUE OF HAVING STUDENTS IN CLASSROOMS IN FRONT OF A TEACHER FACE TO FACE, AND WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT OUR ROCKCASTLE COUNTY STUDENTS ARE IN A CLASS AM RADIO LEARNING FACE TO FACE AND THAT WE CAN CONTINUE THAT THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO WE'LL CONTINUE TO MONITOR, WATCH THE GUIDANCE THAT'S DELIVERED FROM THE DEPARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND AGAIN THAT VARIABLE CALENDAR GIVES US JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO CONTINUE TO WATCH THE SITUATION IN ROCKCASTLE COUNTY.

>> FROM THE SENTIMENT THAT YOU'VE HEARD EXPRESSED ABOUT WEARING MASKS, WHEN AND WHERE, WHERE DO YOU THINK THE COMMUNITY IS LEADING AND THE BOARD IS LEANING?

DO THEY SUPPORT WHAT IS BEING RECOMMENDED?

OR YOU THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME PUSHBACK THERE?

>> I CURRENTLY FEEL LIKE IN THIS RURAL COMMUNITY OF ROCKCASTLE COUNTY THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A SENTIMENT THAT IT NEEDS TO BE AN OPTION FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR STAFF.

JUST TRYING TO READ THE PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY AND GETTING THAT STAKEHOLDER INPUT, IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THEY ARE PUSHING VACCINATIONS, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE DOING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ROCKCASTLE REGIONAL HOSPITAL, IS SETTING UP THOSE VACCINATION CLINICS, AND OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT.

THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO CURTAIL THE IMPACT OF COVID-19.

SO PUSHING THAT AND THEN GIVING THE OPTION TO OUR PARENTS AND OUR STAFF AND OUR STUDENTS TO WEAR THE MASK WITHIN OUR CLASSROOMS.

>> BUT IN-PERSON YOU SAY THAT'S WHERE EVERYBODY CAN AGREE THAT THERE IS A MAJOR CONSENSUS THERE THAT THAT'S THE BETTER ALTERNATIVE THAN EITHER HYBRID OR NTI AND THOSE KIND OF SITUATIONS THAT YOU'VE BEEN ENDURING BEFORE.

YES.

WOULDN'T TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING IN-PERSON ENVIRONMENT.

>> MR. KENNEDY, ERIC KENNEDY, DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY FOR THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US IN OUR ANNEX STUDIO.

APPRECIATE IT.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE HAD A LOT OF CORNS YOUR PHONE TODAY, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST FEW HOURS AND PROBABLY EVEN BEFORE DURING THE DAY WHEN YOU KNEW THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WAS COMING FROM THE GOVERNOR.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE?

>> CERTAINLY.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I THINK THE THING -- I CERTAINLY HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF PHONE CALLS AND eMAILS LATE TODAY.

I THINK FROM ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE AND EVERY KIND OF DISTRICT, URBAN, RURAL, REALLY KIND OF WE'VE BEEN HEARING THE MOST ABOUT AND QUESTIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING TO ASSIST OUR BOARD MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE HAS BEEN SIMPLY MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE GETS THE MOST CURRENT GUIDANCE AND DIE JENNINGS DIGESTING IT.

THE EXHAUSTION FROM THE CONSTANTLY EVOLVING GUIDANCE FROM THE FEDERAL LEVEL, STATE LEVEL AND OTHER LOCAL PARTNERS OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL DIFFERENCE THAT IS SOMETHING OUR MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING WOULD BE MAKING SURE EVERYONE, WHAT THEY HAVE IN FRONT OF THEM IS THE CURRENT GUIDANCE.

WHEN SOMETHING IS CONFLICTING, TRYING TO INTERPRET WHAT SUPERSEDES THE OTHER.

THAT HAS BEEN SOMETHING REALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF PANDEMIC INCLUDING UP UNTIL TODAY IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD TO HELP OUR MEMBERS WITH.

I THINK THAT YOU ARE HEARING, AS SOMEONE MENTIONED EARLIER, UP UNTIL TODAY AROUND 35 OR SO LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND DISTRICTS HAD MADE A DECISION AND MADE A LOCAL PLAN TO BEGIN THE SCHOOL YEAR.

THAT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN ALMOST EVERY DAY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL BOARD MEETINGS ALMOST EVERY EVENING ACROSS KENTUCKY.

ONE OF OUR LARGEST DISTRICTS EARLIER JUST ENDED THEIR MEETING IN FAYETTE COUNTY.

I BELIEVE JEFFERS COUNTY I BELIEVE MEETS TOMORROW.

JEFFREY ZOPF.

SO THESE DECISIONS IN CRAFTING THESE LOCAL PLANS SOMETIMES THEY'RE CHANGING DAILY WITH NEW GUIDANCE IS SOMETHING ALL OF OUR MEMBERS ARE WORKING ON AND FIGURING OUT HOW THEY WILL LAYER ALL OF THE STRATEGIES IN THEIR PLAN.

NOT TO BELABOR THE POINT, BUT ONE OF THE KEY THINGS IN THE CDC GUIDANCE REALLY GOT TO THE HEART OF HOW LARYNG DIFFERENT STRATEGIES IS IMPORTANT AND WILL BE IMPORTANT AS THE INCIDENT RATE CHANGES OVER TIME.

THE CDC SAID THE -- IN THE MOST RECENT GUIDANCE THE CDC CAME OUT, THEYED THE THE IMPORTANCE OF OFFERING IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION IS SO IMPORTANT THAT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER ALL THE PREVENTION STRATEGIES CAN BE IMPLEMENTED AT THE SCHOOL, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF IN-PERSON LEARNING, SCHOOLS WHERE NOT EVERYONE IS FULLY VACCINATED SHOULD IMPLEMENT PHYSICAL DISTANCING TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE BUT SHOULD NOT EXCLUDE STUDENTS ONLY FOR THAT PURPOSE, WHICH IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.

>> YEAH, AND I HIS THAT'S A GOOD POINT WITH MR. KENNEDY.

THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

SO FAR THE DISCUSSION HAS CENTERED ON WHETHER OR NOT TO WEAR A MASK BUT THERE ARE OTHER MITIGATION STRATEGIES, COMMISSIONER GLASS, SUCH AS SOCIAL DISTANCING, SUCH AS MAINTAINING THE VIGOROUS CLEANING AND SANITATION EFFORTS THAT I'M SURE SCHOOLS ARE USED TO HAVING DONE IN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO, SO IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO WEAR A MASK.

AND LIKE YOU SAID, THE LAKER OF THESE MITIGATION MEASURES JUST AS IMPORTANT AS IF YOU DO ONE SINGULAR THING THAT GETS A A LOT OF ATTENTION.

>> YOUR EXACT RIGHT.

THERE'S A REFERENCE TO THIS LAYERING AND USING THE COMBINATION OF THESE.

INCLUDES THE DISTANCING.

IT IS INCLUDES CONTINUED TRAININGS AND QUARANTINE IF YOU'RE EXPOSED, THINGS LIKE THAT AND THE CDC GUIDANCE ALSO GIVES LOCAL DISTRICTS THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT CONDITIONS WITHIN THEY ARE COMMUNITY, POSITIVITY RIOTS, OUTBREAKS ARE HAPPENING AT THEIR SCHOOLS AND THEIR TEAMS MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON THAT.

WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH THE DELTA VARIANT AND CASES ACCELERATING AROUND THE STATE, KEEPING THINGS AT A RECOMMENDATION LEVEL I THINK IS APPROPRIATE BUT THINGS MAY CHANGE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

WE HAVE TO REMAIN AGILE.

WE HAVE TO KEEP GATHERING DATA AND KEEP THINKING.

>> ONE OF THE METRICS USED BEFORE, ONE OF THE LAST TIMES I THINK YOU WERE ON THIS PROGRAM, WAS THE COLOR MAP, WHETHER YOU WERE IN RED, ORANGE OR GREEN, AND WE KNOW THERE ARE 12 PLUS COUNTIES THAT ARE IN THE RED ZONE.

SO IS THAT INDICATIVE ENOUGH OF WHETHER OR NOT A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD CHANGE COURSE JUST BY LOOKING AT THE MAP AND SAYING, HERE'S WHAT OUR CASE COUNT IS, HERE'S OUR POSITIVITY RATE, HERE'S THE DECISION AND THE COURSE WE SHOULD SET?

>> I. I THINK NEACE ONE VARIABLE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD TAKE ACCOUNT, HOW PREVIOUSLY ELTON THE VIRUS IS IN A COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TO THINK ABOUT BUT ALSO VACCINATION RATES IS SOMETHING WE DIDN'T HAVE THE IN THE SPRING, THINKING ABOUT ARE YOU HAVING OUTBREAKS OR QUARANTINES IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND HOW PREVALENT IS THAT.

INVOLVED TEAMS OR CLASSROOMS THAT YOU HAVE HAD OUTBREAKS IN AND WHERE DOES THAT STAND.

HOW QUICKLY CAN WE MOVE TOWARDS VACCINATION FOR STUDENTS UNDER 12, AND CAN WE INCREASE THE VACCINATION RATE FOR STUDENTS 12 AND UP.

ALL OF THESE ARE VARIABLES THAT -- NEW VARIABLES THAT WE HAVE THE PLAY THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD FOR THIS PAST YEAR.

THERE'S A LOT MORE FORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT AS THEY MAKE THESE DECISIONS.

>> QUARANTINING, I WANT TO RETURN BACK TO THAT, HOW DO YOU DECIDE HOW TO DO THAT.

MR. CAMPBELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

YOU'VE BEEN ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" A FEW TIMES SO YOU KNOW THE ROPES HERE.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT TEACHERS ARE TELLING YOU BECAUSE YOU REPRESENT THE LARGEST UNION OF TEACHERS IN THIS STATE.

WHAT YOU ARE HEARING?

PARTICULARLY FROM ITS GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY.

>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, RENEE, FOR HAVING ME ON TODAY, AND I THINK WE HAVE 44,000 MEMBERS ACROSS THE STATE.

I HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT FROM OUR MEMBERS TODAY BECAUSE IT JUST HAPPENED A FEW HOURS AGO.

I'D LOVE TO SAY, WELL, THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.

BUT WHAT I HAVE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR EDUCATORS WHO HAVE DONE AN ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL JOB THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE PANDEMIC, SWITCHING TO THE VIRTUAL LEARNING, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THEY MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS, AND THEY ARE ECSTATIC ABOUT BEING BACK IN PERSON.

THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT IN-PERSON SETTING BECAUSE THEY GET TO FORM AND BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS.

THEY GET TO CREATE THAT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY FEEL -- WHERE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE, THEY ARE THEY FEEL SECURE, WHERE THEY CAN ASK QUESTIONS, WHERE THEY CAN LEARN TO BE CRITICAL THINK PERPS SO OUR EDUCATORS ARE EXCITED ABOUT COMING BACK INTO THIS CLASSROOM AND SEASE SEEING THEIR STUDENTS FACE TO FACE BUT THEY'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY THEIR STUDENTS SO THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE'S GOOD MITIGATION THAT'S HAPPENING.

THERE'S GOOD QUARANTINE PROTOCOLS THAT ARE IN PLACE.

AND ALL THE LAYERS OF PROTECTIONS BECAUSE MAKING SURE THAT THE STUDENTS FEEL SAFE IS THE FIRST STEP TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD EDUCATIONAL INTERNS EXPERIENCE.

>> SO IS DONE LIKE AN INFORMAL POLL ASKING THEM HOW MANY OF YOU SUPPORT MASK REQUIREMENTS AND HOW MANY OF YOU DON'T?

AND WHAT WERE THE RESULTS OF SUCH POLL IF YOU CONDUCTED IT?

>> WE HAVEN'T DONE A POLL SUCH AS THAT.

I DO KNOW LIKE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY VARY, HOW OUR EDUCATORS FEEL VARIES FROM COMMUNITY TO COMMUNITY.

>> WHEN YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS PROGRAM BEFORE ALONG WITH AN EDUCATOR, YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW MANY OF THE EDUCATORS ARE IN HIGH-RISK GROUPS.

THEY MAY BE OVER 60.

THEY MAY HAVE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.

NONE OF THAT HAS CHANGED.

SO THE RISK TO THEM HASN'T REALLY CHANGED EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THEY MAY BE VACCINATED.

BUT IS THERE STILL A CONCERN ABOUT THE DELTA VARIANT AND BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS AND THOSE TYPES THINGS THAT COULD CONCERN A LOT OF PEOPLE, EDUCATORS INCLUDED?

>> I THINK THERE'S STILL A CONCERN AMONGST EDUCATORS OUT THERE.

THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE DEPARTMENT FOR PRIORITIZING EDUCATORS TO GET THE VACCINE.

A LOT OF OUR EDUCATORS REMIND THEIR SLEEVES BECAUSE THEY SEE HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO BE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

THEY'RE DEDICATED TO THEIR STUDENTS.

THEY'RE DEDICATED TO MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN IN PERSON.

SO THEY ROLLED UP THEIR SLEEVES.

THEY TOOK THE VACCINATION.

AND I THINK OUR EDUCATORS WHO ARE CONCERNED HAVE TAKEN THE VACCINATION, AND THOSE THIS THAT WERE HESITANT ARE STILL LEARNING ABOUT IT AND WILL MAKE THAT DECISION BECAUSE IT'S A REAL PERSONAL DECISION.

>> SO IS KEA ADVOCATING TO BE VACCINATED?

>> WE HAVE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.

THE VACCINE IS VERY SAFE AND IT'S HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN COMBATING THE SPREAD OF COVID.

IT'S ALSO HIGHLY -- AND IT ALLOWS FOR OUR EDUCATORS TO GET BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

SO WE HAVE SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING ENCOURAGED OUR EDUCATORS TO REALLY LEARN AND MAKE THE DECISION, AND WE ADVOCATED FOR THEM TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES AND TAKE THE VACCINATION.

>> PENNY CHRISTIAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

KENTUCKY PTA.

YOU JUST CAME ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO AGO FROM THE FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, AND YOU CAN GIVE US A REPORT IF YOU LIKE, ALTHOUGH WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO BE A CORRESPONDENT.

YOU WERE THERE FOR A PARTICULAR REASON.

AND SO I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW AT THE FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT AND WHAT YOU ARE ABLE TO GAUGE ABOUT WHERE PARENTS STAND THAT YOU REPRESENT AND WHAT THEY SAY THEIR STUDENTS WOULD BE BEST SUITED TO HAVE.

>> YES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS DR. LIGGINS OUR NEW SUPERINTENDENT, THIS IS HIS FIRST MEETING, FIRST DIET JOB AND WE HAVE THIS IN-PERSON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WHERE THERE'S SOME EMOTIONS GOING WOULD BE RIGHT?

AND WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A FACTION, THAT IS A GROUP THAT DOES NOT WANT MASKING, BUT I HEARD ONE PERSON SAY, AND IT STRUCK ME, SHE SAID -- HE SAID, RATHER, THAT WE WANT ALL BARRIERS FROM EDUCATION REMOVED.

AS AN ADVOCATE I CAN LIST YOU THE ACTUAL BARRIERS THAT EXIST WHEN IT COMES TO BABIES WHO CAN'T LEARN.

SO HE CONSIDERS MASKING A BARRIER.

THE PROBLEM WITH THAT IS I HAVE A DEAR FRIEND WHO IS ANOTHER ADVOCATE WHOSE CHILD WOULD LITERALLY DIE, LITERALLY DIE IF HE CATCHES COVID.

SO SHE'S ADVOCATING FOR MASKING.

SO WHEN YOU ASK WHAT THE VIBE IS AND YOU ASK WHAT'S IMPORTANT, WE UNDERSTAND THIS NOTION OF CHOICE, BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR CHILD BECAUSE THESE ARE THE PHRASE THAT'S THEY'RE USING.

I WANT MY CHILD TO NOT.

MY CONCERN IS THE OTHER 44,000 KIDS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE IMPACTED BY YOUR DECISION.

RIGHT?

SO CERTAIN GROUPS DON'T COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER GROUPS.

MY GROUP WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVES IN VACCINATING AND MASKING.

MY DAUGHTER IS 16.

SHE'S VACCINATED AS SOON AS SHE COULD GET IT.

I DO IT.

WE'RE VACCINATED.

AND I CAN'T GENUINELY ADVOCATE FOR THIS IF I DON'T DO THIS MYSELF.

>> ERIC KENNEDY, I THINK YOU ARE THE ONE TO FIRST REPORT TO US THAT THE IF AIENT COUNTY BOARD MEETING HAD ENDED, FAYETTE COUNTY BOARD MEETING HAD ENDED, SO HAVE YOU BEEN SEEING OR HEARING ABOUT HOW THAT ENDED AND MAYBE THE RESULT OF IT TONIGHT?

>> WELL, I BELIEVE THAT IT ENDED RIGHT BEFORE I TURNED OFF MY CELL PHONE TO NOT DISRUPT YOUR FEED HERE IN THE STUDIO.

THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION HAD DEFINITELY ENDED.

FROM SOME OF THE MEDIA ACCOUNTS THAT I WAS FOLLOWING, SOME OF THE REPORTERS SAID THAT IT APPEARED OUT OF ALL THE PEOPLE MAKING PUBLIC COMMENT IN FAYETTE COUNTY, THE MAJORITY APPEARED TO BE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WANTING A CHOICE WILL MASKING OR NOT REQUIRING THAT EVERYONE WEAR A MASK.

AS I SAID, MEETING LIKE THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CUPBOARDS SAUL ACROSS KENTUCKY ALMOST EVERY WEEK NIGHT.

TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, MUCH EARLIER IN THE PROGRAM THERE WAS A BRIEF MENTION OF REQUIRING STUDENTS TO TAKE THE VACCINE.

I DO NOT KNOW BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AT THIS TIME IN KENTUCKY.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT LOCAL CUPBOARDS OF THE AUTHORITY BY POLICY TO REQUIRE STUDENTS TO TAKE THIS VACCINE OR ANY NEW VACCINE BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING HANDLED ENTIRELY IN OUR STATE LAW.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT FOR ANY PARENTS OUT THERE, ANYONE CONCERNED ON THAT ISSUE WATCHING THIS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IS SOMETHING YOU WILL SEE IN THE NEAR FUTURE AT THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT LEVEL.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN AT SOME POINT AT THE SEDATE LEVEL.

CERTAINLY WOULD I ALSO SAY THAT KSBA HAS -- EDDIE CAMPBELL FROM WE AGREE THAT IN-PERSON LEARNING IS THE PRIORITY THIS YEAR AND THAT ONE OF THE KEY THINGS TO DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY IS FOR AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE TO BE VACCINATED.

WE CERTAINLY ECHO THOSE COMMENTS AS SO MANY OTHER GROUPS HAVE DONE.

>> YOU'RE WATCHING "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BACK-TO-SCHOOL ISSUES.

SO FAR WE'VE BEEN DOMINATED BY THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT TODAY FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND WE'RE GOING TO SEGUE IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT I DO WANT TO PICK UP A POINT THAT MS. CHRISTIAN MADE ABOUT PARENTS SAYING OF COURSE THEY WANT A CHOICE, AND THEY VIEW MASKING AS AN IMPEDIMENT OR A BARRIER TO THEIR EDUCATION.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS NECESSARILY MS. DAWNE WHO HAD POINTED OUT THIS BUT WE KNOW THAT THE LET THEM LEARN GROUP FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY HAS SAID THAT WE KNOW, TO QUOTE THEM, CLOTH MASKS ARE WORN TO PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE BEFORE BECOMING ILL, NOT THE WEARER.

CHILDREN NOT CONSIDERED HIGH-RISK FROM COVID COMPLICATIONS AND TEACHERS HAVE BEEN VACCINATED IF THEY CHOOSE.

REQUIRING 97,000 STUDENTS IN JCPPS TO WEAR MAY MASK EIGHT HOURS A DAY DESPITE BEING IN THE LOW RISK CATEGORY SUN REASONABLE.

YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT.

>> WELL, I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN AND FRUSTRATION OUT OF PARENTS.

ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS THIS T. MOST DIVISIVE ISSUE EVIDENCE TO FACE, JUST THE WHOLE COVID THING BUT DEFINITELY THIS MASKING THING HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF THAT AS WELL.

AND I'LL SAY THIS.

FROM MY EXPERIENCE SO FAR KIDS HAVE BEEN GREAT ABOUT WEARING MASKS.

THEY HAVE DONE IT EVEN IN THE SUMMERTIME WHEN WE SWITCHED MID COURSE, THEY HAVE BEEN GREAT.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, WE ARE FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE AND WE ARE FOLLOWING THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT GUIDE US IN THIS.

THERE IS STEARS CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT OF -- SERIOUS CONCERN.

ABOUT THE IMPACT OF DELTA VARIANT ON KIDS AND WHAT THAT IMPACT IS DOING TO YOUNGER CHILDREN AND YOUNGER ADULTS AT THIS TIME, WHICH IS SERIOUSLY CONCERNING TO ME.

AND AS A SUPERINTENDENT I I MEANT NONE OF US GOT INTO THIS FIELD THINKING WE WOULD BE MAKING LIFE AND DEATH DECISION ABOUT THE DIRECT HEALTH OF STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO A VIRUS, SO IN THE END WE ALWAYS HAVE TO FALL BACK ON SAFETY.

BUT, RENEE, I WANT TO SAY THIS, THAT IF WE WERE TO HAVE TOUT SHUT DOWN SCHOOLS, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE LESS BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF VIRUS THAT WE HAVE IN THE SCHOOL AND MORE BECAUSE THE AMOUNT OF STUDENTS AND STAFF THAT WE HAVE TO QUARANTINE.

AND SO WHEN WE HAVE TO QUARANTINE STAFF, BUS DRIVERS, TEACHERS, NUTRITION WORKERS, CUSTODIANS, THEN IT BECOMES VERY LIKELY THAT THERE WOULD BE A SHUT DOWN OF SCHOOLS, SO JUST BECAUSE THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE ITSELF, WHETHER THERE ARE SYMPTOMS OR NOT, THAT QUARANTINE IN THE CONTACT TRACING AND QUARANTINING IS A REAL THREAT TO US CONTINUING SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR.

>> YOU BRING UP A REALLY GOOD POINT AND I WANTED TO GET TO THAT, COMMISSIONER GLASS, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE QUARANTINE AND DO YOU QUARANTINE JUST A CLASS OR HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT DOING THIS?

THAT SOUNDS LIKE HAD A REALLY BIG JUGGERNAUT.

>> AS CONTEMPLATED THIS PAST SPRING AND IT'S MORE COMPLICATED.

NOW THE REASON FOR THAT IS THAT WE HAVE VACCINES IN PLACE, AND SO I WOULD SAY TALK TO YOUR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE PHYSICIAN THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH AND DESCRIBE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HOW YOU CAME IN CONTACT, AND THEN WORK THROUGH THAT TO DETERMINE IF YOU SHOULD QUARANTINE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU'RE VACCINATED, YOU'RE WEARING A MASK, YOU'RE MORE THAN THREE FEET AWAY AND CAME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE, YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO QUARANTINE.

IF YOU'RE UNVACCINATED, NOT WEARING A MASK AND CAME WITHIN THREE FEET, YOU MAYBELLE TO.

IT'S GOING TO DEPEND.

AGAIN, WE HAVE MORE VARIABLES THAN WE DID THIS PAST SPRING.

>> AND PEOPLE WILL NEED TO GET TESTED BEFORE THEY KNOW FOR SURE, AND THAT MAY BE A BARRIER.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

I DID WANT TO MENTION THAT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF COMMONALITY IN WHERE WE WOULD ALL LIKE TO GO.

WE ALL WANT OUR KIDS BACK IN-PERSON AND WE WANT THEM TO STAY IN-PERSON.

WE WANT OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL AND LEARNING.

WE WANT THE LEARNING LOSS THAT'S EXPERIENCED THIS PAST YEAR TO BE ATTENDED TO.

WE WANT THEIR SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL NEEDS TO BE ATTENDED TO.

BUT THIS NOTION THAT IT'S ENTIRELY MY CHOICE FOR MY FAMILY IGNORES THAT THE CHOICE IS OTHER AFFECTING.

IT DOESN'T AFFECT JUST ONE PERSON OR ONE CHILD.

IT AFFECTS OTHERS.

THE EXPIRATION OF VIRAL PARTICLES AFFECTS OTHER PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY WE CAN'T JUST SAY, DO WHATEVER YOU WANT AS A PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGY.

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS SAYING AT THE CDC, THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, OUR OWN COMING UP NEXT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

ALL OF THAT IS LINING UP AND IT LINES UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE FROM AROUND THE WORLD HOW WE CONTROL AND CONTAIN THIS VIRUS AND KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN SAFELY.

SO WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU IGNORE ALL OF THAT BECAUSE SOMEONE IS FRUSTRATED?

AND I'M FRUSTRATED TOO.

BUT WHY WOULD YOU IGNORE ALL OF THAT BECAUSE SOMEONE IS FRUSTRATED ABOUT WEARING A MASK OR THE PROCEDURES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN PLACE TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN AND SAFE?

>> SUPERINTENDENT BALLINGER, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT LIABILITY BECAUSE I'M ASSUMING THIS IS A BIG CONCERN FOR SCHOOLS.

IF THEY OPEN AND THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH GUIDANCE, WHETHER THAT'S FROM THE CDC OR THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE IN LINE WITH THAT FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT LIABILITIES STILL COULD BE PRESENTED THERE IN ROCKCASTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS?

AND ARE YOU ASKING PARENTS TO SIGN WAIVERS OR HAVE YOU HAD THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT HAVING PARENTS SIGN WAIVERS?

>> AT THIS POINT IN THE DISCUSSION WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT -- WE HAVE NOT HAD THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT SIGNING WAIVERS, BUT CONCERNING LIABILITY, WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE MASKING ON SCHOOL BUSES AS PART OF THAT CDC GUIDANCE THAT HAS BEEN AT ISSUE.

>> REQUIRED BY THE CDC, CORRECT?

>> EXACTLY.

SO WE WILL BE REQUIRING THAT.

AND AGAIN, HAS ALSO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE LIABILITY THAT GOES ALONG WITH NOT FOLLOWING THAT MANDATE, SO WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THAT FOR CERTAIN.

AS FAR AS THE LIABILITY AT THE MASKING, LIKE I HAD SAID EARLIER, WE'RE JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR BECAUSE HAVE WE HAVE CLOSE TO PYTHON TO MAKE THAT FINAL DECISION OR FOR POWER LOCAL COMMUNITY.

SO AS WE MEAN FOR COMMUNITY ARE RATE AND GUIDANCE, THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION CLOSER TO SCHOOL STARTING.

>> COMMISSIONER GLASS REAL QUICK.

>> JUST TO BOILED THAT POINT, THE CDC GUIDANCE DOES ALLOW DISTRICTS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL THE VARIABLES IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND COME UP WITH A STRATEGY OR A PLAN THAT WORKS FOR THEIR COMMUNITY, BUT ONE OF THE STANDARDS WHEN IT COMES TO LIABILITY IN KENTUCKY IS DID THE BOARD WHO IS MAKING THE DECISION DO THAT WORK IN GOOD FAITH, AND IN THIS CASE IT'S GOING TO MEAN DID YOU TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THIS GUIDANCE FROM THESE EXPERT ORGANIZATIONS AND USE THAT TO BUILD YOUR PLAN.

IF YOU IGNORE ALL THAT, YOU DO HAVE SOME EXPOSURE.

IF SOMEONE IS TO IS GET SICK OR DIES AS A RESULT OF THE INACTION OF A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD OR AN ADMINISTRATION.

>> AND DOCUMENTING THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN THOSE MITIGATION MEASURES.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WOULD BE A TASK AS WELL FOR, DMV TASK TO TRY TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE COVERED FOR THOSE LIABILITIES.

THIS QUESTION FROM HARRY VARGAS, CENTRE 1 KENTUCKY.

WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO ABOUT SPORTS INCOME FANS ATTEND YOU?

HAVEN'T GOTTEN THAT QUESTION, HAVE YOU, COMMISSIONER GLASS?

WE REFER ALL THOSE TO COMMISSIONER TACKETT WHO LOVES RECEIVING THEM, I'M SURE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH AND TALKING WITH CHSA, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND THE BOARD CHAIR LOU YOUNG HAVE BEEN HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS AND KSHA HAS BEEN LOOKING AT THE GUIDANCE.

AND WE EXPECT THEM TO COME IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT HAVE COME FROM THE CDC, OUR OWN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND FROM THE GOVERNOR.

>> WE'LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THAT AND MAYBE WE'LL HAVE MR. TACKETT ON TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

I WANTED TO GO TO YOU, MR. KENNEDY, BECAUSE YOU ARE A LEGAL EAGLE, TOO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT LIABILITY CONCERNS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY HAVE.

WHAT CAN YOU ADD TO THAT CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT MAYBE HAS BEEN ASKED ABOUT -- BEEN ASKED OF YOU ABOUT WHAT SCHOOLS SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN IT COMES TO LIABILITY CONCERNS?

>> YES, CERTAINLY.

OF COURSE, AS AN ATTORNEY WOULD I START ANSWERING BY SAYING THAT ANY OF THE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND SUPERINTENDENTS WATCHING THIS TONIGHT, CONSULT YOUR OWN BOARDER COUNCIL ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

I WILL SAY AT A LEVEL THAT WE CAN SPEAK BIBLICAL THE LAW IN KENTUCKY IS THAT IF ANYTHING IS A REQUIREMENT, IF ANYTHING IS A MANDATE, THAT THERE IS NO DISCRETION OVER LOCALLY AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN FOLLOWED, THERE IS A MUCH HIGHER CHANCE THAT LIABILITY WILL ACCRUE TO THAT LOCAL LEVEL, BE IT AN EMPLOYEE, A TEACHER, JANITOR OR SCHOOL BOARD MAKING PAY DECISION, AND THAT CONVERSELY IF THERE IS ANY LEVEL DISCRETION FOR A DECISION TO BE MADE LOCALLY OR DISCRETION EVEN FOR AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE TO DO SOMETHING ONE WAY OR ANOTHER OR TO DO OR NOT DO SOMETHING, THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE A GREATER PROTECTION FROM LIABILITY FOR ANYTHING THAT'S DISCRETIONARY.

SO HA THANK HAS BEEN CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC OF ALL OF GUIDANCE THAT HAS COME WITHOUT STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL.

DRAWING THAT DISTINCTION OF REQUIREMENTS VERSUS RECOMMENDATIONS OR GUIDELINES, THAT IS ONE OF THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR ANYONE TO TAKE IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT, FROM SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND SUPERINTENDENT DOWN TO EACH INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE, OF MAKING SURE THOSE LINES ARE VERY NEATLY AND CLEANLY DRAWN IS SOMETHING I WOULD SAD, SOMETHING THE COMMISSIONER NOTED EARLIER.

AND HE WAS ALSO ABSOLUTELY CORRECT THAT YOU WILL ACTIONS AND DECISIONS NEED TO BE TAKEN IN GOOD FAITH CERTAINLY.

>> I WANT TO SEGUE TO TALKING ABOUT I THINK SOMETHING MS. BAL INGER TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, AND THAT'S ABOUT THE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL HEALTH OF THE KIDS WHO HAVE SUCH A TRANSITION, AND THAT'S A POOR WORD TO DESCRIBE THEIR EXPERIENCE THE LAST 17, 18 MONTHS.

I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE HANDLED PARTICULARLY IN ROCKCASTLE COUNTY.

LIFE DOESN'T JUST STOP WITH THE PANDEMIC.

KIDS WHO HAD ISSUE WITNESS WHO WERE LIVING IN THE MESSENGER, IN THE GAPS, THEY WERE STILL THERE, AND COVID PROBABLY EXACERBATED MANY OF THOSE EXPERIENCES, SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT YOU'RE HAVING ABOUT THE TIME YOU EXPECT TO SPEND HELPING KIDS JUST READJUST AND KIND OF LET THEIR FEELINGS BE HEARD AND KNOWN.

>> CERTAINLY.

I KNOW THAT THE COMMISSIONER HAS SAID ALL YEAR LONG THAT WE ARE TO EDUCATE, FEED AND SUPPORT, AND IN ROCKCASTLE COUNTY WE'VE BEEN SAYING THAT OVER AND OVER, THAT WE HAVE NOT NECESSARILY SAID THAT IN THAT ORDER.

MAYBE THAT WE'RE FEEDING FIRST, SUPPORTING AND THEN EDUCATING OR MAYBE WE'RE SUPPORTING FIRST.

SO DEALING WITH THE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING OF OUR STUDENTS IS GOING TO BE AN INTENTIONAL FOCUS FOR ROCKCASTLE COUNTY SCHOOLS THIS YEAR WE HAVE.

CREATED A TRAUMA PLAN THAT WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON.

WE HAVE HIRED SOME ADDITIONAL MENTAL HEALTH VOKES, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS THAT WE ARE USING TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS THAT WE KNOW ARE GOING TO BE APPARENT.

IN ROCKCASTLE COUNTY ALONE WE HAVE OVER 400 STUDENTS THAT WE HAD NOT SEEN FACE TO FACE SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

SO IF YOU THINK OF THOSE STUDENTS ENTERING INTO A SCHOOL BUILDING THIS SCHOOL YEAR AND JUST THE ANXIETY OF STARTING OVER, TAKING THAT FIRST STEP AND ENTERING THE BUILDING, WE KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE HIGH NEEDS THAT ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED.

LOCALLY WE HAVE CREATED A SCREENER THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE GIVING TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE'RE GOING TO ANALYZE THE DATA FROM THAT SCREENER.

AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP INDIVIDUAL LEARNING PLANS FOR THOSE STUDENTS THAT ARE FLAGGED.

AND WE KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE TASK.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, NOT ONLY OUR COUNSELOR BUT OUR TEACHERS, OUR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF, EVERYBODY COMING TOGETHER TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS THAT WE KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE -- HAVE TO BE INTENTIONAL.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY FOCUSED.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A TOP OF OUR PRIORITY LIST THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

>> AND IT MAY TAKE MANY SOMEWHAT OF A BACK SEAT ON THE ACADEMICS PART YOU.

MAY HAVE TO SPEND SOME CLASS RHYME TIME DOING THAT IS OPPOSED TO THE SCIENCE PROJECT.

>> YES.

AND WE DO HAVE PLANS TO IMPLEMENT A SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING CURRICULUM GRADES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12th GRADE AND WE ARE GOING TO BE TAKING TIME DAILY TO MAKE SURE WE'RE MEETING THOSE NEEDS.

>> AND PARTICULARLY THAT KINDERGARTEN AGE, RIGHT, WHERE THAT'S A VERY TENDER AGE AND FIRST EXPERIENCE AND IT'S BEEN DELAYED PERHAPS IN SOME CAPACITY.

MS. CHRISTIAN, YOU WERED NOING YOUR HEAD BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT REALLY CONCERNS YOU.

>> IT IS AND.

AND IN THE HEART OF PANDEMIC WHEN EVERYTHING WAS SHUTS DOWN, THE EDUCATION TRUST OUT OF WASHINGTON, DC, DID A STUDY, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY A SERIES OF BLOGS, AND THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS DUAL PANDEMIC THAT WAS IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WHICH WAS COVID AND RACIAL JUSTICE AND RACIAL INJUSTICE.

SO WHAT WE TALKED WITH, AND I ATTENDED SEVERAL WORKSHOPS, WHAT IS CLEAR IS THAT WHEN OUR BABIES GO BACK TO SCHOOL, YOU MAY HAVE SOME DIFFERENT BEHAVIOR ISSUES THAT YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU HAD BEFORE BECAUSE -- LOOK -- I'VE BEEN HOME FOR A YEAR.

I FORGOT HOW TO ACT IN CLASS ♪ ♪ SO WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW DOES THAT CORRELATE TO WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IN EQUITY IS OUR LITTLE BROWN KIDS AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BE DISCIPLINED?

WE KNOW THERE'S ALREADY A PROBLEM IN TERMS THAT OF DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF BROWN KIDS, ESPECIALLY BOYS, WHO ARE PUNISHED AND HOW THEY ARE PUNISHED AND DISCIPLINED.

SO WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING, RACIAL TRAUMA IS PREMIUM ARE WE GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING IN PLACE WITH OUR SCHOOL COUNSELORS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, AT THE SCHOOL LEVEL TO TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED DURING THIS PANDEMIC BECAUSE BREONNA HAPPENED, GEORGE FLOYD HAPPENED, COVID HAPPENED.

DID YOU LOSE ANY FAMILY MEMBERS?

ALL OF THIS IS GOING TO COME INTO PLAY.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING IT'S NOT JUST TO BE GO SEE THE COUNSELOR, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MEET THESE BABIES WHERE THEY ARE AND NOT HOLD IT AGAINST THEM HAVE AND MORE GRACE.

>> I WANT TO GET COMMISSIONER GLASS' TAKE ON THAT.

BUT THERE'S ALSO EDUCATORS WHO DEAL WITH THE TRAUMA OF THEIR STUDENTS WHO LOVE AND TEND AND CARE TO THESE STUDENTS, AND THEY ALSO ARE GOING TO NEED, I WOULD THINK, SOME TRAINING OR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OR JUST AN OUTLET TO BE ABLE TO JUST PROCESS WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH IN THE CLASSROOM THAT COULD BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM JUST A STRAIGHT CURRICULA.

>> YES.

OVER THIS PAST YEAR AND A HALF, 18 MONTHS, WHATEVER WE WANT TO CALL IT, DURING THIS PANDEMIC WE'VE ALL ENDURED TRAUMA, EVERY SINGLE PERSON HAS ENDURED SOME LEVEL OF TRAUMA, AND TO WHAT EXTENT THAT IS IS GOING TO BE REFLECTED INTO OUR CLASSROOMS.

EDUCATORS GOING TO NEED EXTRA SUPPORTS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE THEM GRACE AND TIME TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS.

OUR EDUCATORS ARE EXPERTS IN WHAT THEY DO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

THEY MEET THE NEEDS OF THEIR KIDS.

THEY'RE GOING TO BRING THEM IN WITH OPEN ARMS ON THE VERY FIRST DAY.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE FINGER OUT WHERE THEIR OPPORTUNITY GAPS ARE AND HOW TO FILL THOSE GAPS SO THAT THEIR STUDENTS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO ALSO BE ON THE OTHER SIDE SUPPORTING OUR EDUCATORS, GIVING THEM THE NECESSARY TOOLS, GIVING THEM THE RESOURCES, PROVIDING THEM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WORK WITH THE STUDENTS ONE ON ONE, AND I KNOW A LOT OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DONE A LOT OF THAT THIS SUMMER, PROVIDING EXTRA LEARNING FOR STUDENTS OVER THE SUMMER, BUT THEN THEY'RE ALSO PROVIDING FOR EXTENDED SCHOOL SERVICES FOR TUTORING.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO NEED THAT FOR OUR EDUCATORS TOO.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE OUR TENANTS ARE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SOME MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR THEMSELVES.

BECAUSE LIKE I SAID WE'VE ALL ENDURED THE TRAUMA SO WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAL, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE SOME TIME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO REACT TO BEING BACK IN PERSON, LEARNING THE PROTOCOLS, TAKING THE OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING EVERYBODY HEALTHY, WE'RE KEEPING THEM SAFE, THAT WE'RE MAKING SURE THAT THEIR BODY IS FED.

THAT'S GOING TO LAY THE FOUNDATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A POSITIVE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

SO IT'S GOING TEAK A LITTLE TIME AND PATIENCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

>> AND GRACE, AS MS. CHRISTIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT, FOR KIDS WHO ARE TRYING TO REACCLIMATE WHO FORGOT HOW TO BEHAVE IN A CLASSROOM AND WHO MAY ACT OUT, PERHAPS SUSPENSION AND DETENTION AREN'T THE IMMEDIATE GO-TOSS, THAT TOES GIVEN TO THEM.

>> MR. KIDNEY BELIEVE YOU WANTED TO CHIME IN HERE.

>> VERY QUICKLY TO FOLLOW UP ON SUPERINTENDENT BALLINGER AND SUPERINTENDENT WERE MENTIONING ABOUT DESCENDED SCHOOL SERVICES, BRINGING ADDITIONAL SCHOOL BOUNCE COUNSELORS INTO OUR SCHOOLS AND SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORTS.

EVEN AS WE SPEAK THERE'S A MAJOR THING THAT EVERY KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARD IS ORGANIZING OH IS SOMETHING CALLED AUSH ARM EVER ARP ESTHER IS A LONG AKRON THAT I AM STANDS FOR COVID FEDERAL RELIEF FUNDING THAT EVERY DISTRICT IN KENTUCKY RECEIVED WITH EVERYBODY DISTRICT GOT A DIFFERENT AMOUNT.

BUT DISTRICTS LOCALLY EVEN THOUGH WE'RE RIGHT NOW TALKING ABOUT TODAY'S MASK GUIDANCE INITIATIVE, DON'T LOSE SIGHT THAT YOUR SCHOOL BOARDS ARE REACHING OUT FOR INPUT BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S REQUIRED BY LAW.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO CRAFT HOW THEY WILL USE THAT MONEY FOR MANY OF THESE THINGS, NOT ONLY LEARNING LOSS BUT THE WHOLE CHILD THAT OUR CHILDREN NEED AND THAT OUR STAFF NEED.

>> COMMISSIONER GLASS WANTED IT TO GET TO YOU ABOUT THIS WHOLE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING PIECE AND TO THE PART ABOUT DEALING EQUITY.

WHERE DOES THAT PURSUIT STILL STAND GIVING ALL THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT LIE BEFORE YOU?

>> I THINK PENNY IS RIGHT ON IN SAYING THAT THE INEQUITIES THAT WERE PRESENT IN OUR SYSTEM BEFORE COVID WERE EXACERBATED DURING IT.

WE KNOW THAT OUR STUDENTS COME TO US WITH DIFFERENT SUPPORTS, DIFFERENT NEEDS, DIFFERENT CHALLENGES, AND SOME OF OUR KIDS HAD A LOT OF SUPPORTS AT HOME AND OTHERS DID NOT DEPENDING ON THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, SO ALL THAT WAS SORT OF LAID BARE OVER -- THROUGHOUT COVID.

WHAT I HAVE REALLY BEEN STRESSING WITH EVERY GROUP EDUCATORS AND PARENTS I CAN TALK TO IS AS WE RETURN BACK THIS FALL, THAT WE PUT CARE BEFORE CONTENT, SO WE THINK ABOUT HOW CAN WE TAKE CARE OF THIS CHILD AND ATTEND TO THEIR SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL NEEDS AND ANY TRAUMA THEY'VE AND CATCH THEM, AND THEN START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE CAN CATCH THEM UP ON CONTENT, AND WE PUT RELATIONSHIPS AHEAD OF RIGOR.

WE'VE GOT LOTS OF WORK TO DO TO CATCH KIDS AND UP WE KNOW ACADEMICALLY THEY'RE BEHIND BUT THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS ESTABLISH THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM.

ERIC KENNEDY IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE ALSO HAVE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY IN KENTUCKY WITH THE INFUSION OF THESE FEDERAL SUPPORT DOLLARS AROUND COVID RELIEF.

I THINK OUR STUDENTS AND OUR EDUCATORS AND OUR PARENTS WILL LOOK BACK ON THIS YEAR THAT WE JUST HAD AND WE WILL ALL ABLE TO SAY THAT WAS REALLY AWFUL.

THAT MAYBE THE WORST YEAR THAT WE EVER LIVED THROUGH.

BUT LOOKING AHEAD WITH THE INFUSION DOLLARS WE HAVE BEEN THE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND OUR PARENTS AND OUR EDUCATORS TO SAY THOSE NEXT THREE YEARS AND WHAT MY SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHAT MY COMMUNITY DID FOR ME, THOSE WERE THE BEST THREE YEARS OF MY LIFE.

THAT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL AFTER THREE YEARS OF THAT, THAT WE HAVE KIDS THAT LOOK BACK AND SAY THOSE WERE THE GREATEST THREE YEARS.

>> DR. POLLIO, CONTENT AND RELATIONSHIPS BEFORE RIGOR.

IS THAT WHAT JEFFERSON COUNTY IS WHICH I HAD TO?

>> RENEE, LET ME SAY THIS FIRST OF ALL AND IT'S FOLLOWING UP ON WHAT DR. GLASS JUST SAID.

I THINK WHEN WE FOCUS IN ON JUST WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO KIDS DURING COVID -- I HAVE A 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, A TEENAGE DAUGHTER WHO DOESN'T WITH AN A WEAR A MASK TO SCHOOL BUT SHE WILL, SO I ANT WANT TO MISTAKE THAT CLEAR.

AS A FATHER THERE ARE SEVERAL PARENTS HERE THAT WE DEAL WITH THAT.

BUT I ALSO THINK WHEN WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION WE MINIMIZED THE CHALLENGES THAT OUR KIDS BROUGHT INTO COVID PRIOR TO THIS.

I JUST WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR ON.

THE CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE FACING IN PUBLIC EDUCATION IN OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA, AND I'LL FOCUS IN ON JEFFERSON COUNTY.

WHEN WE WENT INTO THE PANDEMIC, WE WERE WERE CLOSING IN ON 70% OF THE STUDENT POPULATION BEING -- QUALIFYING FOR FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH, AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT INCREASE SINCE I STARTED MY CAREER.

WE HAVE 13,000 SPECIAL ED STUDENTS.

NOW WE'RE CLOSING IN ON 12,000 ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

AND EVEN MORE STARK, GOING INTO THE PANDEMIC WE HAD OVER 6,000 HOMELESS STUDENTS.

IN JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I HAD MADE A COMMITMENT TO MYSELF THAT I WAS GOING TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE CHALLENGES AND NOT FRY TO HIDE THOSE.

THIS IS THIS IS WHAT OUR KIDS ARE COMING TO US WITH.

THEORY COMING TO US WITH TRAUMA AND BEING IN N. COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY SEE VIOLENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND THIS EMOTIONAL TRAUMA THAT THEY'RE BRINGING TO US.

I KNOW ACUTELYIES THAT PRINCIPAL OF A HIGH POVERTY SCHOOL WHAT KIDS WOULD BRING TO US EVERY DAY.

SO, YES, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS WITH COVID, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE BRING KIDS IN AND, YES, WEARING GOV TO IDENTIFY THEIR ACADEMIC NEEDS, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE HAVE HAD A FOCUS IN JCPS ON PROVIDING THE SERVICES THAT KIDS NEED, AND NOW WITH OUR STIMULUS FUNDING, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO RAMP THAT UP EVEN MORE AND DO SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS TO SUPPORT KIDS, BOTH ACADEMICALLY AND WITH THAT SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL PIECE, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT CHILD POVERTY IN THIS NATION IF WE TRULY WANT TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ON EDUCATION.

>> AND CAN THAT CARES OR IF COVID RELIEF MONEY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE?

THERE'S RESTRICTIONS ON WHAT THIS MONEY CAN BE USED FOR.

YOU THINK ABOUT SEEMINGLY INTRACTABLE PROBLEM LIKE POVERTY.

HOW DOES THE SCHOOL DISTRICT GET AT THAT OR HOW CAN THEY PARTNER TO GET AT THAT?

>> NEACE A GREAT QUESTION.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH LARGE ENTITIES, WHETHER THAT BE JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR METRO LOUISVILLE, THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, DR.

VERY LARGE ENTITIES THAT MANY TIMES IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO COLLABORATE, BUT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT.

I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE.

AFFORDABLE SHINING DIFFERENCE MAKER FOR THE KIDS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

IF WE GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL OF OUR STUDENTS, THAT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ACADEMIC OUTCOMES WITHOUT A DOUBT AND SUPPORT FOR KIDS.

SOMETIMES WE JUST NARROW IT DOWN WHAT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL WALLS.

NOW, WE NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT, BUT, WE ARE COLLABORATING WITH OUR CITY AND WILLIAM OF OUR PARTNERS P SO OUR SUMMER LEARNING, WE HAD OVER 6,000 KIDS REGISTER, SIX TIMES GREATER THANE WE EVER HAD IN JCPS USING STIMULUS MONEY, AND WE PARTNERED WILLIAM COMMUNITY GROUPS ALL AROUND THE CITY BECAUSE WE KNOW RESEARCH TELLS US KIDS MORE LIKELY TO COME TO A COMMUNITY HUB OR A PARTNERSHIP THAN MAYBE INTO A SCHOOL.

WE COULD SEND THE TEACHERS TO THEM.

SO THAT'S ONE EXAMPLE OF THE USE WE CAN USE BY PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY FOLKS ALL AROUND THE CITY.

BUT NO DOUBT I MEAN WE HAVE TO THINK BIG ABOUT WAYS WE CAN TACKLE CHILDHOOD POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FOOD INSECURITY.

WE HAVE SO MANY KIDS IN JCPS WHO WE GIVE A SACK, BACKPACK FULL OF FOOD TO GO HOME.

THAT MAY BE THE ONLY MEAL THEY HAVE FOR THE ENTIRE, AND THAT'S REALLY SUBURBAN IN THIS NATION IN 2021 THAT HE'S A PROBLEM WITH SO MANY KIDS.

>> ROCKCASTLE COUNTY, WHEN WE TALKED LAST WEEK, MS. BALLINGER, YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR FEEDING PROGRAM AND HOW ROBUST THAT IS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RELATIONS OVER CURRICULUM, YOU WERE PUTTING THAT IN ACTION WITH THE 45 COMMUNITY CENTERS YOU HAD WORKED WITH TO HELP DISTRIBUTE FOOD.

SO TELL US ABOUT THE FOOD INSECURITY THAT'S IN YOUR AREA AND YOUR REGION.

>> YES, THAT'S BEEN AN HUGE FOCUS FOR US IN ROCKCASTLE COUNTY SCHOOLS AND SOMETHING I'M VERY, VERY PROUD OF OF THE WORK THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH DURING THE PANDEMIC.

DURING THAT TIME WE KNEW THAT THAT HAD TO BE TARGETED.

IF WE WERE NOT SEEING OUR STUDENTS DAILY, THAT WE KNEW THAT WE HAD TO MAKE CERTAIN THEY WERE BEING WELL FED.

WE DO LIVE IN THAT RURAL AREA THAT WE KNOW THAT FEEDING INSECURITY IS VERY PREVALENT, IS ON WE CREATED 45 COMMUNITY FEEDING SITES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY, AND WE WERE ABLE TO NOT ONLY FEED OUR STUDENTS BUT CONTINUE BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR STUDENTS.

THEY SEE THEIR BUS DRIVER.

THEY SEE THEIR TEACHER.

THEY SEE THEIR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT, AND THAT WAS A HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY FOR OUR STUDENTS BUT FOR OUR TEACHERS AND FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS.

THAT WAS A WAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE BUILDING CONNECTIONS.

IT WAS A WAY THAT WE COULD CHECK ON OUR STUDENTS, CONTINUE TO MONITOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, CONTINUE TO MONITOR WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THEM ACADEMICALLY.

ANY TIME THAT WE COULD CONNECT WITH A FAMILY BY PROVIDING THEM A FEEDING SOURCE, THEN WE COULD ALSO SAY, WELL, HOW'S YOUR HOMEWORK GOING?

HOW IS IT GOING WITH THIS ASSIGNMENT, WITH THIS CLASS?

AND WE WERE ABLE TO JUST CONTINUE BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR STUDENTS.

AGAIN, MOVING INTO WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SUMMER, WE HAVE HAD COMMUNITY PICKUPS IN THE MONTH OF JUNE.

IN JULY WE HAVE SERVED OVER 12,000 MEALS TO OUR STUDENTS IN THE MONTH OF JULY.

SO SOMETHING I'M REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF.

WE DO WEEKLY MEAL PICK PUPS LAST WEEK WE EVEN HAD TO HAVE THE MOUNT VERNON CITY POLICE ASSIST WITH US BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC BACKUP THAT WE WERE EXPERIENCING AT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

SO IT'S BEEN A HUGE SUCCESS WITHIN OUR COUNTY AND SOMETHING AGAIN I'M VERY PROUD OF.

OUR TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT HAS ASSISTED WITH THAT.

OUR FOOD SERVICE DEPARTMENT.

SO IT'S JUST BEEN A REAL COMMUNITY EFFORT AND SOMETHING I CAN SEE THE BENEFITS FAR GREATER THAN THAN JUST FEEDING STUDENTS.

>> SURE.

MR. CAMPBELL.

>> AND I REALLY WANT TO LIFT UP OUR FOOD SERVICE WORKERS, OUR BUS DRIVERS, OUR TRANSPORTATION WORKERS.

AND OUR EDUCATORS WHO HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS PREPARING MEALS, DELIVERING MEALS.

OUR EDUCATORS HAVE PROVED, PROVEN THROUGHOUT THIS THAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ESSENTIAL, BUT THEY'RE ALSO EXCEPTIONAL AND THEY GO BEYOND THAT EXTRA MILE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR STUDENTS ARE BEING MET AND OUR FOOD SERVICE WORKERS AND OUR CUSTODIANS AND OUR BUS DRIVERS HAVE BEEN A MAJOR PART OF THAT WHOLE MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> WE DON'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF TIME TO TALK MORE ABOUT EQUITY EFFORTS AND WE'LL GET THOSE PERHAPS ANOTHER TIME.

I DO WANT TOO TO MAYBE GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD, MS. PENNY CHRISTIAN -- NO PRESSURE -- ABOUT WHAT YOU HOPE PARENTS AND STUDENTS WILL EMBRACE ABOUT GOING INTO A NEW YEAR IN SPITE OF WHAT LIES AHEAD.

>> EVERYTHING IS IN SPITE OF, RIGHT?

AND I'M LISTENING TO DR. POLLIO AND HE'S TALKING ABOUT POVERTY, AND I'M HEARING WHAT WE ALREADY KNOW, ALL OF THE INEQUITIES WE KNEW THAT EXISTED, RIGHT?

SO FOR ME TO TRY AND REACH AS MANY FAMILIES AS POSSIBLE MOVING FORWARD, I WANT THEM TO HEAR ME WHEN I SAY THE NEGATIVES THAT YOU'RE HEARING NEGATIVE ARE NOT NEW.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING THEM FOR 20, 30 YEARS.

WHAT COVID DID WAS EXPOSE IT, AND WHAT WE CANNOT HAVE HAPPENED, PARENTS HEAR ME, WE CANNOT LET CERTAIN GROUPS CO-OP PHRASES AND TERMS LIKE EQUITY AND BARRIER AND TAKE THEM AND USE THEM TO NOT TALK ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE BECAUSE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THOSE BARRIERS, THOSE BARRIERS OF HOMELESS AND POVERTY AND FOOD INSECURITY AND SPECIAL NEEDS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT, I WANT PARENTS TO HEAR ME WHEN I SAY HOLD YOUR SCHOOL BOARDS ACCOUNTABLE, REACH OUT TO YOUR SUPERINTENDENTS, AND YEAH, I'M GOING TO SAY IT, JOIN YOUR PTA.

TALK TO ME.

I'M WILLING TO HELP.

>> SHAMELESS PLUG.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE APPRECIATE YOU, MR. CAMPBELL, SUPERINTENDENT BALLINGER, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GLASS, SUPERINTENDENT POLLIO AND ERIC KENNEDY THERE IN OUR FRANKFORT STUDIO.

WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FANCY FARM NEXT WEEK.

RENEE SHAW.

TAKE GOOD CARE.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.