WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC COVID AND THE CLASSROOM.

THREE WEEKS AGO, DURING A SPECIAL SESSION, THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENDED THE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE IN SCHOOLS, BUT MOST OF KENTUCKY'S 171 SCHOOL SYSTEMS DECIDED TO REQUIRE MASK TODAY GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAID IT APPEARS KENTUCKY'S POSITIVITY RATE AND CASE NUMBERS ARE STARTING TO DECLINE.

BUT HE SAYS THE DEATH NUMBERS ARE STILL TOO JUST LAST WEEK, A 15-YEAR-OLD STUDENT DIED OF COVID IN FAYETT.

SO WHAT STEPS ARE EDUCATORS TAKING TO PROTECT STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM?

AND HOW ARE THOSE MEASURES AFFECTING THE LEARNING PROCESS?

WE'LL TALK ALL ABOUT IT WITH OUR GUESTS TONIGHT IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO WE ARE JOINED BY COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS OF THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIO ERIC KENNEDY, DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY FOR THE KENTUCKY SCHOO BOARDS ASSOCIATION.

AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE STEVEN RILEY, A REPUBLICAN FROM GLASGOW AND VICE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION CO IN OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO, STATE REPRESENTATIVE TINA BOJANOWSKY, A LOUISVILLE DEMOCRAT AND MEMBE OF THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTE WELCOME TO ALL OUR GUESTS.

WHETHER IN LOUISVILLE OR RIGHT HERE IN LEXINGTON STUDIO, GOOD EVENING THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING WITH US.

I WANT TO JUMP RIGHT IN AND GO TO YOU REPRESENTATIVE RILEY BECAUSE YOU WERE ONE OF THE WRITERS I UNDERSTAND OF HOUSE BILL 1, WHICH WAS THE MIRROR OR CARBON COPY OF SENATE BILL 1 THAT ENDED UP PASSING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION JUST HERE RECENTLY.

I WANT YOU TO REMIND OUR VIEWERS WHY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTED TO REPEAL, GET RID OF THE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE, CONSIDERING THAT 97% OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE DECIDED TO STICK WITH THEM.

DID THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MISJUDGE WHERE PEOPLE REALLY WERE ON THIS ISSUE?

>> RENEE, I DON'T THINK WE MISJUDGED AT PALM I THINK THAT HE ANTICIPATED THAT WAS A POSSIBILITY WITH THE INCREASING NUMBERS IN COVID, WE FELT LOOK THIS NEEDED TO BE A LOCAL DECISION, BUT WE WERE NOT SURPRISED AT ALL THAT A LOT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS DECIDED TO KEEP THE MASK MANDATE BECAUSE THEY'RE PROTECTING -- IF ANYBODY CARES ABOUT THE STUDENTS OF THEIR AREA, IT'S THE SUPERINTENDENT, THE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD AND THE TEACHERS AND STAFF AND OTHER MEMBERS IN THEIR LOCAL AREA, SO I WAS NOT SURPRISED, AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WAS SURPRISED THAT A NUMBER OF THEM KEPT THE MASK MANDATE.

>> ARE YOU GLAD THAT MOST OF THEM HAVE KEPT THE MASK MANDATE?

>> YEAH, I THINK -- AS A SAY, I TRUST THE SUPERINTENDENTS AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE TO DO WHAT THEY FEEL IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND SO I'M NOT SURPRISED AT ALL THAT THEY DID THIS, AND BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE DOING IT BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE IT'S THE BEST PROTECTION THEY CAN OFFER RIGHT NOW.

>> RIGHT.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS THIEVES THEM IMPETUS FOR GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER A STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE WHEN YOU RETURN IN JANUARY 2022?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

WE LOOKED AT GIVING THE ABILITY TO MAKE LOCAL DECISIONS, SO I THINK THIS HAPPENED SIMILAR TO WHAT WE THOUGHT MIGHT HAPPEN, AND I DON'T SEE THAT THERE WILL BE ANY REASON TO CHANGE THAT FROM WHAT WE'VE DONE.

>> SO JUST STAY THE COURSE WHEN YOU GO BACK IN IN JANUARY.

>> YES, MA'AM INTEREST.

>> TO GO TO REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY IN OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> HELLO.

>> YOU WERE ONE OF THE 25 DEMOCRATS THAT VOTED AGAINST SB 1 AND 24 THAT VOTED TO OVERRIDE THE VETO OF THE GOVERNOR OF IT.

IN YOUR MIND, SHOULD LAWMAKERS HAVE EMBRACED SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

AND WHAT SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT NOT CONTINUING THE MASK MANDATE, MOSTLY BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME SUCH A POLITICALLY POLARIZED ISSUE AND NOT REALLY EVERYONE JUST FOCUSING ON WHAT IS THE RESEARCH AND MAKING THE SAFEST ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR STUDENTS.

SO THE MAIN THING, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE MAIN THING THAT I WANTED WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, TO MAINTAIN AT LEAST THE ABILITY FOR THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE A MASK MANDATE.

NOW, WHETHER OR NOT THAT WOULD HAVE A METRIC THAT WENT WITH IT, YOU KNOW, SO IF A COUNTY WAS RED, THEN MAYBE HE COULD, AND THEN WHEN IT BECAME ORANGE, THEN IT BECAME A LOCAL DECISION, SO THAT WAS A CONCERN.

A SECOND REASON THAT I VOTED AGAINST THE BILL IS BECAUSE IT DIDN'T HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITIES BUILT IN THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY'S EASY TO ADD TO THE BILL THROUGH SOME AMOUNTS OF.

THOSE AMOUNTS OF NOT EVEN HEARD AND THIS WAS VERY FRUSTRATING, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT ME TO GO INTO IT NOW OR LATER.

>> SURE, GO AHEAD.

>> BUT THE ISSUE WITH -- SO THERE WAS REMOTE INSTRUCTION, SO THAT WAS WONDERFUL.

THERE WERE 20 REMOTE INSTRUCTION DAYS, BUT IT WAS PER DISTRICT.

SO A SMALL DISTRICT SUCH AS ANCHORAGE SCHOOL HAS BUN BUILDING AND THEY COULD BE VERY TARGETED AND FLEXIBLE ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT NEED TO DO REMOTE INSTRUCTION, WHETHER IT WOULD BE A WHOLE GRADE OR A CLASSROOM OR A GROUP OF STUDENTS.

A LARGE DISTRICT, SUCH AS JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE 155 DIFFERENT BUILDINGS, GETS THE SAME 20 DAYS.

SO IT REALLY WORKED AGAINST THE INITIATIVE TO MAKE IT THE MOST FLEXIBLE FOR DISTRICTS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE MOST CHILDREN IN SCHOOL BECAUSE A LARGE DISTRICT WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW THEY USED THOSE 20 DAYS.

SO THOSE WERE TWO OF THE ISSUES.

THE THIRD ISSUE THAT REALLY FRUSTRATED ME IS THAT THERE WAS NOT AN AMENDMENT CONSIDERED TO REQUIRE DISTRICTS TO COVER COVID SICK PAY OR COVID QUARANTINE PAY FOR ALL TEACHERS AND ALL EDUCATORS.

AS AN EDUCATOR, AS A TEACHER IN JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, OUR SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED NOT ONLY TO COVER VACCINATED/UNVACCINATED TEACHERS WHO HAD COVID WHO WERE PLACED ON QUARANTINE BY WORK, BUT WE ALSO GET COVERED IF WE HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS LADIES ON QUARANTINE FOR WORK.

AND A BE THE WHO IS PLACED ON QUARANTINE FOR WORK.

AND A CONCERN OF THE TEACHERS IS THEY'RE HAVING TO USE ALL OF THEIR PERSONAL SICK DAYS FOR QUARANTINE, FOR FAMILY MEMBERS BEING ILL, AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT HAS COME INTO EDUCATION HAS GONE DOWN TO DISTRICTS, I FELT LIKE THAT WAS AN IMPORTANT CHANGE TO MAKE TO THE BILL.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT OF THE FAYETTE COUNTY HAS ALCOHOLISM OUT AND PARTICULARLY ON YOUR SECOND POINT AND TALKED ABOUT HOW THAT BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ALONG WITH JEFFERSON, THAT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT.

THEY WOULD JUST BLOW THROUGH THOSE 20 DAYS, AS THEY HAVE NUMEROUS DAYS ALREADY.

I WANT TO MOVE ON NOW TO COMMISSIONER GLASS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

YOU KNOW, THIS UNDID WHAT THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION HAD PUT INTO PLACE, AND NEITHER THE KENTUCKY BOARD OF EDUCATION OR DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH COULD ISSUE ANOTHER MASK MANDATE UNTIL I BELIEVE IT'S JUNE OF 2023.

WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE NEW LAW?

ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH IT N. AN?

AND WHAT POTENTIAL IMPACTS AND THREATS DO YOU FATE COULD HAVE ON STUDENT AND TEACHER SAFETY?

>> FIRST OF ALL, I THINK WE SHOULD GIVE THE LEGISLATURE CREDIT FOR DOING SOME GOOD THINGS.

ON ONE OF THE MAJOR ELEMENTS THAT SCHOOLS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IS FUNDING FOR NEXT YEAR BECAUSE OF ALL THE DISRUPTION TO ATTENDANCE THEY WERE SEEING THIS YEAR, AND THEY KNEW THAT THAT WAS GOING TO IMPACT FUNDING FOR NEXT YEAR, SO ONE ELEMENT OF THE BILL IS TO STABILIZE THE FUNDING AND USE A HISTORICAL COUNT AND SAY FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR BAER GOING TO LOOK AT THE 18-19 AND '19 ACTUAL COUNTS.

THE LEGISLATURE STILL HAS DISTRICTS THAT ARE GROWING.

THEY'LL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION FOR THAT BUT THEY HAVE TIME TO DO THAT.

AS REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY SAID THEY ALSO ADDED THE TEMPORARY INSTRUCTION DAYS THAT ALLOW SCHOOLS TO PLACE AT A GRADE OR CLASSROOM LEVEL.

THAT PROVIDES A LOT OF FLEXIBILITY FOR THE STUDENTS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE LARGER DISTRICTS?

>> THE 20 DAYS PER DISTRICT, THAT'S A REAL LIMITATION ON THE LARGER DISTRICTS.

SO WE'LL SEE.

THEY PUT THAT LIMITATION IN THINKING IT WOULD BE ENOUGH, AND WE'LL SEE IF IT WAS OR NOT.

THEY ALSO ADDED STAFFING SUPPORTS.

THEY ALLOWED DISTRICTS TO USE RETIREES, TO PUT IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, PUT HOURLY EMPLOYEES INTO CLASSROOM ROLES SO THAT GIVES DISTRICTS OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO ALL THE DISRUPTION THEY'RE SEEING IN TERMS OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS.

AND ON THE MASKING MANDATE WHILE THEY WENT AGAINST OUR RECOMMENDATION IN ELIMINATING THE STATE BOARD'S MASK REQUIREMENT THEY DIDN'T GO AS FAR AS THEY POMPANO BEACH WE HAVE SEEN SOME STATES ELIMINATE MASKING FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH MAYBE YOU COULD ARGUE THAT THAT WAS A GOOD POSITION TO TAKE IN JULY OR AUGUST BUT ELLEN CERTAINLY NOW WITH THE DELTA VARIANT, ALL THE OUTBREAKS AND QUARANTINE WE'RE SEEING AND THE EVIDENCE, STUDIES COMING OUT THAT SUPPORT MASKING SHAN AS AN EFFECTIVE LAYERING MITIGATION STRATEGY, YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE THAT DECISION NOW.

I'M HEART END THAT 97% OF THE DISTRICTS THAT CHOSE TO CONTINUE MASKING AND OVER 97% OF STUDENTS IN THE STATE ARE IN A SCHOOL BUILDING THAT STILL REQUIRES MASKING.

>> SO THE KDE RELEASED SOME GUIDANCE, I GUESS THAT WAS LAST WEEK ON THE 20th.

WHAT DOES THAT DO AND WHAT HAD THAT PROVIDE FOR SCHOOL SYNOPSIS.

>> IT REALLY GOES EVER INTO EVERY EVERY ASPECT OF THIS BILL AND IT'S OUR NON-REGULATORY OPINION REALLY ON WHAT WE THINK IT MEANS AND HOW YOU COULD OPERATIONALIZE IT.

>> SO IT'S A RECOMMENDATION, NOT A MANDATE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH GUIDANCE DOCUMENT.

HERE'S WHAT WE THINK THE LEGISLATURE INTENDED.

HERE'S HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK OR HERE'S HOW WE THINK IT SHOULD WORK IN YOUR CONTEXT.

SOME OF THOSE THINGS WHERE THE DEPARTMENT HAS SOME CONTROL AROUND THINGS LIKE HOW STUDENTS ARE COUNTED FOR ATTENDANCE OR HOW DAYS ARE LOGGED INTO THE STATE SYSTEM TO DETERMINE IF YOU'RE GOING TEMPORARY REMOTE OR GOING NTI.

WE NEEDED TO STELL DISTRICTS HOW THAT WAS GOING TO FUNCTION SO NEACE WHAT THAT GUIDANCE DOCUMENT DOES.

>> I WANT TO GET THE NOMENCLATURE.

NON-INSTRUCTIONAL DAYS VERSUS REMOTE INSTRUCTION, IS THERE A DIFFERENCE AND WHAT IS SENILITY.

>> THERE IS.

IT'S VERY TECHNICAL.

NONTRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION REALLY IS WHERE AN ENTIRE DISTRICT CLOSES DOWN TEMPORARILY.

WE USED TO USE THOSE DAYS FOR WEATHER IMPACTS.

WHEN COVID HIT WE STARTED USING THEM FOR COVID-RELATED IMPACTS.

BUT THERE WAS A LIMITATION OF JUST TEN DAYS ON THAT.

SO WE SAW DISTRICTS CLOSING DOWN THIS FALL BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID OF USING THOSE DAYS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY KNEW IF THEY HAD A WEATHER ISSUE OR A SNOW OR ICE IN THE SPRING, THEY'D BE OUT OF THOSE DAYS AND HAVE A FUNDING PROBLEM.

SO THAT'S NTI.

THAT WAS STILL LIMITED AND IT IS STILL LIMITED, BUT THE LEGISLATURE ALSO DID CREATE THIS TEMPORARY REMOTE INSTRUCTION OPTION.

AGAIN IT'S LIMITED AS REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY SAID, BUT THAT PROVIDES SOME BREATHING ROOM TOO.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF THERE IS REALLY THE PLA THOUGH.

THE VIRUS HAS RUN OUT OF SORT OF UNVACCINATED AND BREAKTHROUGH CASES IT CAN FECT AND NOW WE'LL START IS TO SEE AN EXPONENTIAL DROP BUT NO ONE REALLY KNOWS.

>> ERIC KENNEDY, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

YOU ARE DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY FOR THE KENTUCKY SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION, AND I CAN IMAGINE THAT YOUR PHONE HAS BEEN IN HIGH USE AND TEXTING AND ALL OF THE MODALITIES IN WHICH WE COMMUNICATE.

WHAT ARE SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN PUT IN A POSITION PERHAPS UNENVIABLE IS A POLITE WAY OF PUTTING IT OF MAKING THESE DECISIONS ANDnd SPRONG TO WHAT DECISIONS THEY ARE DOING AND WANT THEM TO DO MORE OF.

>> CERTAINLY.

WE WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE HAVE WHAT WE SAW IN THE FINAL VERSION OF SENATE BILL 1 THAT PASSED DURING THE REGULAR SESSION.

MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE ASKED FOR THAT WE HEARD FROM OUR MEMBERS THAT THEY NEEDED IN THE WEEKS, ESPECIALLY THE TWO WEEKS LEADING UP TO THE SPECIAL SESSION ENDED UP IN THE BILL.

OF COURSE, SOMETHING COULD ALWAYS GO FARTHER, APPROACHED IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

WE ARE ALSO COGNIZANT OF THE ACCOMPLISH REALITY.

WHEN STUDENTS ARE INVOLVED THINGS CAN BE POLARIZED.

SOME OF THEM WERE COMPROMISES.

IT ALLOWED LOCAL LEADERS TO MANAGE THROUGH THE CRISIS.

IT ALLOWS PARENTS OR FAMILY OR EVEN YUSUF SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM ONE DISTRICT TO ANOTHER.

SO FOR MY MEMBERS ON LOCAL ELECTED SCHOOL BOARDS, THEY HAVE BEEN UNDER THE GUN REALLY SINCE DAY ONE OF THE PANDEMIC IN MANY WAYS, AND A LOT OF HEATED PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SOMETIMES AT MEETINGS HAS HAPPENED.

SOME OF THAT WAS LONG BEFORE THE STATE BOARD OF ED OR THE STATE GOV'S ORDER FOR THE ORDER WAS EVER IN PLACE.

THAT CAUSE AID LOT OF HEAT WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD AND THINK THAT THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF SOMETHING BUT THEY ACTUALLY ARE NOT.

WE HAVE BEEN DEALING 2 SOME OF THAT FOR A WHILE.

RECENTLY SINCE THIS SPECIAL SESSION, THAT ONE CRITICAL WEEK, IT CERTAINLY WAS A BUSY TIME FOR US ANSWERING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ON WHAT THE BILL DID, WHAT LOCAL BOARDS COULD AND COULD NOT DO.

THAT FIRST WEEK AFTER THE SPECIAL SESSION AS BOARDS ALL THROUGHOUT KENTUCKY WERE MEETING TO DECIDE IF THEY WOULD KEEP A LOCAL MASK MANDATE IN PLACE OR NOT, I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY FUND FUN NECESSITY MANY WAYS.

I'VE HEARD MY MEMBERS SAY AT THE VERY END IT WAS ALMOST ANTI-CLIMACTIC.

THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF OUTREACH.

THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF OPPOSITION TO WHAT SOME OF THE LOCAL BOARDS END P UP DOING.

DURING THAT WEEK ALMOST ALL OF THEM KEPT A MASK MANDATE IN PLACE BECAUSE AT THAT POINT I THINK THEY POLLED THEIR PARENTS, THEY POLLED THEIR COMMUNITY AND SAID, THIS WILL VERY LIKELY KEEP US WITH IN-PERSON SCHOOL INSPECTOR THAT IS FROM THE TOP OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM DOWN EVERYONE AGREES GETTING AS MUCH IN PERSON INSTRUCTION AS WE CAN ANYWHERE.

I THINK IN THE END SCHOOL BOARDS CAME, MADE THEIR DECISIONS.

ALMOST EVERYONE HAS DECIDED TO KEEP MASK FINANCING KEY THING IT IS I OPEN ENDED.

SOME BOARDS HAVE SAID WE WILL KEEP IT IF OUR COUNTY IS ONE COLOR OR ANOTHER ON THE MAP.

>> SO FOLLOWING WHAT REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY STIPULATED EARLIER DB PLAN WE HAVE SEEN A VARIABLE APPROACH.

SOME DISTRICTS HAVE SAID WE WILL KEEP IT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

SOME HAVE SAID WE WILL EVALUATE EVERY WEEK OR EVERY MONTH DEPENDING ON CASES IN OUR DISTRICT, IN OUR COUNTY.

I THINK WHEN LOCAL COMMUNITIES WALL OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS SEE A LOCAL APPROACH TO THAT AND THEY KNOW THAT THIS MAY CHANGE NEXT WEEK OR NEXT MONTH, IS NOT ONLY IS THAT SOMETIMES EASIER FOR SOME LOCAL FOLKS TO ACCEPT AND SOMETHING THAT'S ONE SIZE FITS ALL FROM FRANKFORT, ABOUT IT UNLESS SOME WAYS GIVES AN INCENTIVE TO WORK ON GETTING VACCINATED, TO WORK ON WEARING THE MASK AND MITIGATING THE SPREAD VIRUS, AS WELL AS SOME HOPE THAT WE ARE NEARING NOT ONLY I THINK WE HAD A PLATEAU FOR A WHILE AND TODAY THE GOVERNOR SAID VARIOUS NUMBERS OF CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE FALLING, SO I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL VERY HOPEFUL RIGHT NOW.

>> OF THE SIX DISTRICTS THAT HAVE VOTED TO MAKE MASKING OPTIONAL, WE DID REACH OUT TO THEM.

TWO OF THEM DID NOT RETURN OUR CALLS AND FOUR OF THEM DECLINED TO COMMENT, AND THAT COULD BE A SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR WHO ARE A SUPERINTENDENT.

AND SO I WANT TO GET BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES THAT THEY ARE TAKING AND THE A WILT TO A ABILITY TO REVISIT.

VACCINATIONS.

WHAT ARE YOUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SAYING, THE DISCUSSIONS THEY'RE HAVING ABOUT VACCINATIONS?

ARE THEY EVEN TALKING ABOUT THAT THORN JUST ENCOURAGING THE POPULATION TO GET VACCINATED?

WHAT OTHER THINGS ARE THEY TRYING TO DO?

>> I THINK THAT'S ALSO WE HAVE SEEN A VARIABLE APPROACH IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES.

ONE -- WHEN YOU FAULK VACCINATIONS ONE WHOLE ISSUE IS THE POSSIBLE FEDERAL MANDATE THAT MAY OR MAY NOT COME DOWN SOME TIME SOON WIDELY ACROSS ALL EMPLOYERS THAT PROBABLY WOULD INCLUDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

THAT'S ONE ISSUE THAT WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE MUCH CONTROL OVER IF AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS.

ANOTHER IS THE STATE FROM THE COMMISSIONER BLAST CAN SPEAK TO, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S NEW INCENTIVE PROGRAM OF PROVIDING SOME MONETARY AWARD FOR EMPLOYEES OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT GET VACCINATED.

WHETHER OR NOT LOCALS CONTRIBUTE A LOCAL AMOUNT OF MONEY ON TOP OF THAT IS SOMETHING THAT LOCALS ARE DISCUSSING.

SOME HAVE ALREADY DECIDED TO DO SO.

SOME HAVEN'T.

AND THEN ALSO JUST FROM THE VERY BEGINNING REALLY OF WHEN THE VACCINE BECAME AVAILABLE, THE GUIDELINES FROM THE STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS FROM THE CDC AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE PRETTY.

CONSISTENTLY SAID THAT THE FULLY VACCINATED ADULTS DO NOT HAVE TO QUARANTINE UNLESS THEY ACTUALLY TEST POSITIVE AND SHOW SYMPTOMS.

SO PURELY FOR THAT ASPECT, NO MATTER WHAT YOU FEEL ABOUT THE VACCINE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF FEELINGS ON ALL SIDES OF IT, A LOT OF MY MEMBERS HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE TO WORK AND THEREFORE TO KEEP IN-PERSON SCHOOL, IS TO HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE THAT ARE ABLE TO GET VACCINATED TO DO SO.

>> COMMISSIONER GLASS, I WANT TO PICK UP ON A COUPLE OF POINTS THAT MR. KENNEDY JUST RAISED ABOUT ANY KIND OF FEDERAL MANDATE THAT CAN COME COUN.

I WANT YOU TO ADDRESS THAT ALONG WITH THE KDE'S INCENTIVE PROGRAM AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE.

>> SURE.

WELL, OSHA TALKED ABOUT ISSUING A EMERGENCY TEMPORARY REGULATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE VACCINATIONS AND ALL EMPLOYERS OF OVER 100 EMPLOYEES WHICH WOULD INCLUDE MOST OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE.

WE'RE ONE OF THE STATES THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY THAT.

HOW THAT PLAYS OUT I THINK IS STILL AN ONGOING SAGA TO SEE.

WE'RE LIKELY TO SEE COURT CASES AND CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

SO I THINK WE SORT OF STAND BACK AND WATCH AND SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT BEFORE WE EXPEND A GREAT DEAL OF ENERGY ON IT AT THIS POINT.

BUT THAT MAY BE -- THAT MAY BE COMING TO PASS.

AND THEN ON THE INCENTIVE SIDE, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL USE PART OF OUR FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE FOR DISTRICTS.

WE SEND $100 PER EMPLOYEE IN ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE, AND WE ENCOURAGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO MATCH THAT, AND SOME OF OUR DISTRICTS HAVE MATCHED IT, DISABILITY, SOME HAVE YOU D. DOUBLED IT SOME HAVE QUADRUPLED ON QUINTUPLED IT TO CREATE LARGER INCENTIVES.

EVENTUALLY WE LEVEE EV BELIEVE ALL THE TICKETS WILL TAKE PART IN THAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

>> WE DO WANT TO HEAR FROM A CONSTITUENCY PARENT GROUP, FACEBOOK GROUP CALLED "LET THEM LEARN."

THEY STARTED OFF BEING "LET THEM PLAY."

DAWN PERKINS IS THE CO-FOUNDER OF THIS FACEBOOK GROUP, AND I TALKED TO HER JUST LAST FRIDAY ABOUT THIS.

THE HERE'S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.

DAWN PERKINS WITH LET THEM LEARN.

THANK YOU SOAP FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO I WANT TO ASK YOU RIGHT OFF THE BAT AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS TONIGHT ABOUT THE NEW LAWS AS IT CONCERNS SCHOOLIE AND COVID, DO YOU THINK THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID THE RIGHT THING BY UNDOING THE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATES AND PUTTING SOME LIMITS ON REMOTE INSTRUCTION?

>> I ABSOLUTELY DO.

I FEEL LIKE GIVEN THAT WEV 120 COUNTIES AND 170 PLUS DIFFERENT DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, THAT A BLANKET APPROACH TO WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS JUST NOT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN.

SO I WAS EXCITED TO SEE THEM DO THAT, AND I THINK THAT MOVING FORWARD THAT WILL BE A GREAT ASSET ACROSS THE BOARD AS WE CONTINUE INTO 21-22 SCHOOL YEAR.

>> REMIND US ABOUT HOW MANY PARENTS AND OTHER CONCERNED FOLKS IN THE SCHOOL AND EDUCATION SPACE ARE PART OF THE "LET THEM LEARN" COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY, AND MAYBE AN EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF FEEDBACK YOU'VE BEEN HEARING OVER THE LAST 15, 17, 18 MONTHS.

>> WELL, THERE'S ABOUT 37,000 IN ONE GROUP AND THERE'S ANOTHER 14, 15 IN THE SECOND GROUP, SO TOTAL IN THE 50,000 PLUS, AND THE BIGGEST THING IS THAT PARENTS WANT TO HAVE A DECISION OR A PART -- TO BE PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS WITH REGARDS TO THEIR KIDS AND EDUCATION.

AS I DON'T HAVE TO REMIND YOU, THIS IS YEAR THREE OF INTERRUPTION AND THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME CONCERNS NOT ONLY ACADEMICALLY BUT IN A LOT OF OTHER AREAS WITH REGARDS TO CHILDREN AND THEIR UPBRINGING AND THEIR FUTURE.

>> WE KNOW THAT AT THE TIME WE RECORDED OUR INTERVIEW, FAYETTE COUNTY HAD JUST LOST ITS FIRST CHILD FROM COVID, AND WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST FOUR OTHER CHILDREN WHO HAVE SUCCUMBED TO COVID.

AT THE TIME WE SPOKE, 20 SOMETHING WERE IN THE HOSPITAL AND EIGHT IN THE ICU.

WHEN YOU HEAR THOSE NUMBERS, YES, THEY MAY BE SMALL, BUT IT IS STILL SOMEBODY'S CHILD.

DOES IT CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE ANY OR INFLUENCE HOW YOU THINK ABOUT MITIGATION MEASURES THAT SCHOOLS SHOULD BE TAKING?

>> NO.

ACTUALLY, RENEE, IT DOESN'T.

AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY TOO.

AND FIRST OF ALL, MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE CHILDREN, AS WELL AS ANYBODY THAT'S LOST ANYONE WITH REGARDS TO COVID.

BUT THE THING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT IS THE MENTAL STRESS THAT SO MANY OF THESE KIDS ARE ON AS WELL, AND WE HAVE LOST PROBABLY AS MANY OR MORE THAN THAT EVEN IN CHILD SUICIDE HERE IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, SO THERE'S NOT A -- [INAUDIBLE] SITUATION OR A ONE APPROACH THAT'S GOING TO FIX EVERYTHING AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET THROUGH IT.

SO AGAIN, I AM NOT UNDERMINING AND I ABSOLUTELY AM HEARTBROKEN FOR THOSE FAMILIES, BUT I'M ALSO CONCERN FOR THE ONES THAT ARE ON MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND SOME OTHER THINGS THAT AREN'T GETTING RECOGNIZED FROM THE INDIRECT EFFECTS OF COVID IN THE LAST 18, 19 MONTHS HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> AS YOU KNOW VERY WELL, OF THE 170-SOME ODD SCHOOL DISTRICTS, MOST OF THEM HAVE CHOSEN TO KEEP SOME TYPE OF MASK MANDATE IN PLACE.

THOSE SCHOOL BOARDS MADE THAT DECISION.

HOW DO YOU -- HOW DOES THAT SIT WITH YOU?

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT'S RIGHT, THAT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS SHOULD MAKE THAT DECISION?

BUT DOES I WILL STILL RUB YOU THE WRONG WAY THAT MASK MANDATES EXIST IN THOSE COUNTIES THAT CHOSE TO MAKE IT SO?

>> IT DOESN'T RUB ME THE WRONG WAY BECAUSE TWO REASONS.

ONE, I'M NOT IN THAT COUNTY, AND, TWO, I'M NOT IN THAT DECISION MAKING SEAT.

SO DO I FEEL LIKE -- [INDECIPHERABLE] THAT'S DEBATABLABLE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT COUNTRIES WITH SWITZERLAND, SWEDEN, IRELAND THAT SAY THERE'S NOT A SIGNIFICANT THING WITH REGARDS TO WHO GETS COVID AND WHO DOESN'T IF YOU HAVE A MASK OR YOU DON'T.

SWEDEN THEY'VE NEVER MASKED AT PALM EUROPE IS NO LONGER MASKING RIGHT NOW.

AGAIN, IT DOESN'T MAKE ME MAD BUT I JUST FEEL LIKE THERE'S A BIGGER PICTURE THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, BUT I'M NOT HERE TO CRITICIZE THE LOCAL DISTRICT.

I'M JUST HAPPY THAT THE DECISION IS IN THEIR HANDS.

>> WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS AN ANTI-MASKER OR AN ANTI-VAXXER?

>> I'M NOT ANTI-ANYTHING.

I AM PRO-CHOICE.

I BELIEVE THAT WE LIVE IN THE GREATEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD AND THAT FREEDOMS ARE PART OF IT, AND WITH THE UNCERTAINTY OF WHAT'S RIGHT, WHAT'S WRONG, WHAT'S BLACK, WHAT'S WHITE,IEL, PURPLE GREEN IS HARD TO SAY.

I AM NOT AN ANTI-VAXXER OR A ANTI-VAXXER MASKER.

I'M ON WHAT'S THE BEST FOR YOUR COMMUNITIES.

>> AND LET THEM PLAY AND LET THEM LEARN ARE PARENTS SATISFIED WITH WHERE THINGS SEEM TO BE GOING FOR RIGHT NOW?

>> THERE'S HAD A LOT THAT ARE STILL HOPEFUL.

I THINK BY THE LEGISLATORS REMOVING THE REGULATION, WHAT THAT DID WAS THAT ACTUALLY GAVE THEM A LIL LITTLE BREATH, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T AN IMMEDIATE CHANGE, THEY KNOW THAT THEIR CHILDREN AREN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO BE IN A MASK 270 DAYS AS REGULATION SAID.

SO WOULD THEY PROBABLY MASK OR TAKE A MASK OFF RIGHT NOW?

YEAH, A LOT OF THEM WOULD.

WOULD THERE BE SEVERAL THAT WOULD STILL WEAR A MASK?

YES, ABSOLUTELY.

AND AGAIN, IT JUST GOES BACK TO PRO-CHOICE.

WE HAD BOTH IN OUR GROUP, AND THAT'S PERFECTLY FINE BECAUSE WE NEED BOTH.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO FEEL THE ABILITY TO DO WHAT'S IN THEIR BEST INTERESTS FOR THEIR FAMILIES, AND I DON'T HAVE ANY RESERVE OF SAYING THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY THINK THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

>> DAWN PERKINS WITH LET THEM LEARN KENTUCKY.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND YOUR TIME.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

>> REPRESENTATIVE, I WANT TO COME TO YOU AND GET YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

WHAT MS. PENSIONER SAID, DOES SOME OF THAT RESONATE WHAT YOU HEAR FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS?

>> I THINK SO, RENEE AND IT, WITH WHAT DAWN SAID OR ALSO WHAT ERIC SAID EARLIER, IS THAT THE LOCAL BOARDS MAKING A DECISION ON MAC MANDATES HAVE GIVEN PEOPLE HOPE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THE BOARDS, WHEN THE NUMBERS GO DOWN WHERE THEY MAY COME BACK A WEEK LATER, A MONTH LATER, WHENEVER THEY HAVE THEIR NEXT MEETING, THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO CHANGE TO SOME DEGREE.

YOU KNOW, THIS BILL GAVE FLEXIBILITY FOR SCHOOLS TO BE ABLE TO DO A MULTITUDE OF THINGS AS FAR AS HOW THEY MASK AND HOW THEY QUARANTINE BECAUSE QUARANTINING HAS BEEN A BIG PROBLEM FOR SCHOOLS.

SO, NO, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT ARE DOING THE INDIANA MODEL WHEREBY AS LONG AS STUDENTS ARE WEARING MASKS, IF A PERSON HAD SYMPTOMS, THEY GET SENT HOME, BUT AS LONG AS YOU'RE WEARING A MASK DOWN THE GET SENT HOME.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S BEEN USED BY MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

I THINK THAT I FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS THAT THEY FEEL LIKE ARE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY DIVERSE STATE.

THINGS IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ARE DIFFERENT THAN FULTON COUNTY.

AND THINGS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY ARE DIFFERENT THAN THEY ARE IN HAZARD AND LEXINGTON THAN WHERE I'M FROM IN SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY.

SO THIS GIVES LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS THE ABILITY TO SAY ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL.

THIS SIZE FITS OUR LOCAL DISTRICT.

SO I AGREE A LOT OF WHAT DAWN SAID AND ECHO A LOT OF WHAT ERIC SAID EARLIER ABOUT GIVING LOCAL BOARDS THE DECISION MAKING -- THE DECISIONS THEY NEED TO MAKE, AND COMMISSIONER GLASS IS RIGHT.

WE GAVE A LOT OF FINANCIAL FLEXIBILITY ALSO IN THIS BILL THAT ALLOWS SCHOOLS TO BETTER FUNCTION FINANCIALLY.

SO I THINK IT'S WELL-CRAFTED IN THE WAY IT WAS DONE, AND I THOUGHT DAWN BROUGHT UP SO MANY REALLY GOOD POINTS.

>> I WANT TO COME UP TO ONE OF THE PROVISIONS ABOUT TEST TO STAY.

MR. KENNEDY I WANT TO PICK UP ON A POINT SHE MADE, AND WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT OFTEN ENOUGH THIS PROGRAM OR PERHAPS THE OTHERS ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH STRESSES THAT WE FEEL ESPECIALLY CHILDREN BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SO MANY DIGS ERUPTIONS TO THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

THE SUICIDE NUMBERS, IS THERE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE THAT, BA UP THAT CLAIM, THAT THE WAY, THE APPROACH THAT'S BEEN EXECUTED BY THE GOVERNOR HAS CAUSED SOME TYPE OF MENTAL DISTRESS THAT'S ALMOST BEEN TO FATAL SNOWDEN.

>> I THINK WE DO NOW, VERY RECENTLY SINCE LAST FRIDAY, SOME INFORMATION CAME OUT FROM LEADERS AT THE KENTUCKY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RIGHT HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IN LEXINGTON, JUST VERY CLOSE TO THE STUDIO WHERE WE ARE.

UNIVERSITY THE OF KENTUCKY ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE DID A LIVE INTERVIEW.

I URGE EVERYONE TO LOOK IT UP AND WATCH IT.

PARENTS, SCHOOL LEADERS AND EVERYONE.

IT WAS VERY SHORT, ABOUT 25 MINUTES, VERY EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

THESE TWO DOCTORS THAT ARE REALLY LEADERS AT THE KENTUCKY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THEY DID SAY THAT SUICIDE ATTEMPTS AMONG FOLKS UNDER 18 AMONG YOUTH HAVE INCREASED.

HOSPITALIZATIONS FROM ATTEMPTED SUICIDES AT THE KENTUCKY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL HAVE INCREASED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

THEY SAID THAT ADMISSIONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, EATING DISORDERS UP.

NEONATAL, ABSTINENCE STILL TO COMECH SYNDROME, BABIES BORN TO MOTHERS WITH DRUGS IN THEIR SYSTEM.

THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S NOT POLITICAL INFORMATION, NOT FROM ANOTHER STATE OR ANOTHER CRYPTS REAL DOCTORS LEADING OUR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN LEXINGTON SAYING THIS.

THEY SAID ALL OF THAT GOES INTO THEIR URGING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REMAIN IN PERSON INSTRUCTION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

THEY SAID THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO FOR THE STUDENTS, NOT ONLY THEIR LEARNING BUT THEIR WELL-BEING, AND THE FAMILY STRESS THAT BOTH OF THEM SPOKE AT LENGTH ON THIS VIDEO ABOUT THE STRESS THAT IS HIT FAMILIES SINCE THE BEGINNING.

SO I URGE EVERYONE TO WATCH THAT.

WE ARE SENDING THAT OUT TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS.

NOW THAT THEY HAVE SO MUCH OF THIS IN THEIR HANDS AND THEY WILL LOOK AT A WEEKLY, MONTHLY, THAT IS SOME INFORMATION FROM OUR OWN DOCTORS HERE IN KENTUCKY THAT CAN REALLY HELP THEM TO MAKE SOME OF NIECE DECISIONS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY, I WANT TO GET YOUR TAKE ON THAT AND ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ANGUISH THAT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE EXPERIENCING, AND YOU JUST HEARD THOSE NUMBERS FROM MR. KENNEDY.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE SUCH A HIGH PROPENSITY FOR OUR STUDENTS TO BE -- TO HAVE SUICIDAL IDEATION.

IT'S ONE IN SEVEN HIGH SCHOOLERS AND ONE IN FIVE MIDDLE-SCHOOLERS WHO WOULD HAVE SUICIDAL IDEATIONS EVEN WITHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT I'M FINDING IN OUR BUILDING IS THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE KIDS WHO ARE REALLY EMOTIONALLY OR BEHAVIORALLY ACTING OUT.

AND I WOULDN'T SAY THAT IT'S DIRECTLY RELATED TO WHETHER WE WERE IN SCHOOL OR OUT OF SCHOOL.

I THINK IT GOES BACK TO WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HOME, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE PARENTS HAD STRESSORS ON THE FAMILY.

HAVE THEY LOST THEIR JOBS?

HAVE THEY HAD DIFFICULTY WITH UNEMPLOYMENT?

HAVE THEY LOST A FAMILY MEMBER TO COVID?

WE HAVE GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR CITY.

YOU KNOW, DO THEY KNOW SOMEONE WHO WAS MURDERED BY GUN OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE IN THEIR COMMUNITY THAT IS CAUSING ADDITIONAL STRESS TO THEM?

WE DISCOVERED WHEN WE HAD ALL THE BUILDINGS CLOSED DOWN, WHAT WE IN EDUCATION KNOW IS HOW IMPORTANT EDUCATION IS TO SO MANY OTHER FACETS OF A CHILD RATHER THAN JUST THE FACT THAT THEY LEARN ABC, XYZ AND KEEPING THEM FED AND THE MEALS AND P WEREAROUND SERVICES AND IDENTIFYING CHILD ABUSE, IDENTIFYING SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT HAVEN'T HAPPENED WHILE WE WEREN'T IN-PERSON, SO IT'S DEFINITELY BENEFICIAL TO BE IN-PERSON.

BUT I'M NOT SURE IF THEY ARE TRIGGERED, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE CAUSATION IS, AND THAT WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD HESITATE TO SAY, THAT THE CAUSATION IS WHEN WE'RE NOT I KNEW PERSON VERSUS IN-PERSON.

-- NOT IN-PERSON VERSUS IN-PERSON.

>> SURE.

I GET ON YOU THAT.

AND YOU ARE AN.

I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE RILE HAS BEEN IN THAT SPACE AS WELL.

ANOTHER EDUCATOR STEPHANIE WINKLER WHO IS NO STRANGER TO ANYONE HAD TO PANEL WHO USED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE KENTUCKY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION WHO IS A MADISON COUNTY TEACHER TWEETED TO EMPLOYEE EARLIER, THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO REMEMBER.

2021-22, THE YEAR OF GRACE, AND SHE GIVES THIS LITTLE INFO GRAPHIC THAT SAYS, "THE LAST NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR FOR STUDENTS IN GRADE 7 WAS GRADE 4.

FOR STUDENTS IN GRADE 6, IT WAS GRADE 3.

FOR STUDENTS IN GRADE 5, GRADE 2.

GRADE 4, GRADE 1.

GRADE 3, KINDERGARTEN.

AND FOR THOSE IN GRADES 2, 1 KIDNEY, NEVER HAVE THEY HAD A NORMAL SCHOOL YEAR."

SO I WANT TO GO TO COMMISSIONER CLASS.

THAT MAKES THE CASE.

WE'VE HEARD FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT HOW IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE IN IN-PERSON LEARNING INSTRUCTION IS CRICK, AND WE'VE HEARD THAT FROM CDC DIRECTORS AND ET CETERA.

SO WHEN YOU HEAR AN EDUCATOR SAY, LOOK, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A NORMAL AND STEPHANIE GOES ON TO SAY THAT LEGISLATION DOES NOTHING TO DELIVER SERVICES -- DOES NOTHING IF THE ONES DELIVERING SERVICES FEEL BEAT DOWN, BLAMED ONE SUPPORTED AND WITHOUT THE ADD ADEQUATE RESOURCES NEEDED AS A COLLECTIVE TO RESPOND TO SUCH A DEVASTATING CHANGE IN HOW WE NEED TO EDUCATE CHILDREN IN KENTUCKY.

SO FOR TEACHERS WHO FEEL THAT WAY, CAN YOU GIVE A RESPONSE?

>> I KNOW THAT WE'VE GOT SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS FROM THE THE LAST TWO YEARS, AND THAT ARE STILL ONGOING, SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION.

I LOOKED AT SOME DATA JUST TODAY.

SOME OF IT'S STILL PRELIMINARY.

WE THINK IT'S COULD I HAVE THE BUT IT INDICATES THAT ABOUT 20% OF THE STUDENTS IN THE STATE HAVE HAD SOME KIND OF COVID-RELATED DISRUPTION THIS YEAR.

SO EITHER QUARANTINE OR THEY'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN SICK AND MISSED.

WE HAVE 49 DISTRICTS WHERE OVER HALF OF THE STUDENTS HAVE HAD SOME KIND OF COVID-RELATED DISRUPTION.

SO THIS DISRUPTION FROM THE PAST TWO YEARS IS NOW ONGOING AND CONTINUES TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR US.

MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, ACADEMIC CONCERNS, LEARNING CONCERNS, DEVELOPMENTAL CONCERNS, IT PILES ON.

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKES TIME.

I THINK GRACE IS A GREAT WORD.

WE'VE USED AT A I LOT, WE NEED DEEP USING IT BECAUSE IT GOING TO TAKE AS YOU COUPLE YEARS TO WALK OUT OF THIS.

WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN INFUSION OF FEDERAL DOLLARS.

THAT'S GOING TO ABOUT IT.

I WANT TO TALK JUST A MINUTE BUT MASKING PROVISION AND THE STATE BOARD BECAUSE I THINK I NEED TO STAND UP FOR THE STATE BOARD FOR A SECOND.

WHEN WE GO BACK TO AUGUST WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE AROUND THE STATEWIDE MASKING REQUIREMENT THAT THE STATE BOARD PUT IN PLACE FOLLOWING THE GOVERNOR'S ACTION, THERE I WAS GREAT DEAL OF VARIABILITY ABOUT WHICH SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO PUT THAT IN PLACE, AND IT WAS LOOKING MOST SCHOOLS IN THE STATE WERE NOT.

THEN THERE WAS ALL THIS SIGNIFICANCE, WILL T. SHOULD BE MY CHOICE OR MY RIGHT.

IT'S NOT A CIVIL RIGHT TO TRANSMIT A VIRUS TO SOMEONE ELSE, AND WHEN IT COMES TO PRESENTING OUR CHILDREN AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN OUR BUILDINGS, FOR ME IT'S A CLEAR ISSUE.

YOU TAKE THE STEPS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO MITIGATE THE VIRUS.

WE KNEW LESS THEN.

WE KNOW MORE NOW.

A STUDY JUST CAME OUT FROM THE CDC THAT INDICATED THAT MASKING REDUCES COVID TRANSMISSION BY THREE AND A HALF TIMES IN SCHOOL.

I JUST SAID 20% OF OUR KIDS HAVE HAD SOME KIND OF COVID-RELATED DISRUPTION.

49 OUR DISTRICTS, OVER HALF THE KIDS HAVE HAD SOME KIND OF COVID-RELATED DISRUPTIONS.

SO IMAGINE IF THOSE NUMBERS WERE THREE TIMES THAT.

I SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT.

THE STATE BOARD MEMBERS SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT.

WE PUT THAT IN PLACE.

I PROTECTED KIDS.

AND FOLLOWING THAT DECISION ALMOST ALL THE DISTRICTS IN THE STATE CONTINUED IT.

>> I WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT.

THE STUDENT VOICE TEAM WHICH ALL OF AWARE OF AND HAVE TESTIFIED OF ABOUT YOUR COMMITTEE, REPRESENTATIVE RILEY, ADVOCACY GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY SENT THIS STATEMENT IN THAT THE KENTUCKY STUDENT VOICE TEAM MOURNS THE STUDENTS AND STAFF WHO HAVE TIED.

>> COVID DURING THE PANDEMIC.

WE BELIEVE IT IS IMPERATIVE TO MAINTAIN MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS RECEIVE AS COMPLETE OF AN EDUCATION AS POSSIBLE.

MASK MANDATES KEEP US IN CLASSROOMS AND HELP AVOID DISTRICT WIDE CLOSING.

WE COMMEND THE 165 DISTRICTS -- MAYBE THAT'S MORE NOW -- IN KENTUCKY THAT HAVE MAIDEN MASK REQUIREMENTS EVEN AFTER THE OVERRULING OF THE STATEWIDE MASK MANDATE AND HOPE TO SEE KENTUCKY'S 650,000 STUDENTS SAFELY RETURN AND REMAIN IN CLASSROOMS THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.

SO TO GET TO THE POINT ABOUT BEING IN PERSON BUT ALSO MASK MANDATES.

YOU'VE HEARD THESE KIDS TESTIFY MANY, MANY, MANY TIMES, REPRESENTATIVE RILEY.

WHAT IMPRESSION DOES THAT MAKE OUT WHEN YOU HEAR STUDENTS SAY, WE NEED A MASK MANDATE?

>> IT'S -- RENEE, IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE I HAVE DONE SOME SUBSTITUTE TEACHING, AND ONE DAY ONE OF THE TEACHERS THAT I DID IT FOR SAID, WOULD YOU -- IT'S A SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS -- WOULD YOU TALK TO OUR CLASS ABOUT BEING A STATE REPRESENTATIVE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR A WHILE.

AND THEN I SAD HEM, HOW HAS THE LAST YEAR GONE FOR YOU GUYS?

HOW IS SCHOOL FOUR RIGHT NOW?

AND ONE THING THAT THEY MENTIONED A GREAT DEAL WAS THAT HOW THEY FELT LIKE THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WERE DOING THE BEST THEY COULD, AND THEY WERE WORKING EXTREMELY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WERE IN A SITUATION WHERE THEY WERE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE AND TRYING TO GET THE BEST EDUCATION POSSIBLE.

BUT THE STUDENTS DID INDICATE THAT IT HAS BEEN VERY STRESSFUL FOR THEM.

AND SO WHEN YOU HEAR STUDENTS LIKE THE STUDENTS WITH STUDENT VOICES, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TO US LISTEN TO STUDENTS.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR TO US GET A PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

>> AND STEPHANIE WINKLER WOULD ASK IF SHE WERE SITTING HERE, ARE YOU LISTENING TO EDUCATORS WHO ARE BEGGING FOR GRACE AND WHO NEED MORE FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAN PERHAPS THEY BELIEVE THEY'RE RECEIVING?

>> FIRST OF ALL, A LOT OF MY FRIEND ARE EDUCATORS, YOU KNOW, FROM BEING IN THAT PROFESSION, AND OBVIOUSLY I KNOW THE DIFFICULTIES THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

I HAVE A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW THAT'S A TEACHER RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE OTHERS AND HAVE CONSTANT DIALOGUE WITH THEM.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE LIVE IN ALMOST THREE HOUSES CLOSE TO ME HAVE ALL TEACHERS IN THEM, SO OLIVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM QUITE OFTEN.

AND THE STRESSES ON THEM HAVE BEEN ENORMOUS.

AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE FRYING TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN IN A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION.

I TOLD A GROUP OF TEACHERS I TALKED TO RECENTLY THAT WITH COVID WE'RE ALL IN THE THE SAME STORM, ALL OF US, BUT WE'RE NOT ALL IN THE SAME BOAT, AND AID TEACHER TELL ME THAT SHE FELT LIKE SHE WAS IN A BOAT WHERE SHE WAS PADDLING UPSTREAM.

SO I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THE DIFFICULTIES THAT THEY'RE DEALING WERE I DAILY BASIS.

ON HIGHWAY.

HERE I GOT LIKE FOUR PHONE CALLS TO BE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THOSE -- ENOUGH PEOPLE TO DO THOSE TYPE THINGS.

SO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OFTENTIME TEACHERS ARE QUARANTINED, BECAUSE OF THE QUARANTINE RULE, SO I AM VERY AWARE OF A LOT OF THE DIFFICULTIES THEY DEAL WITH.

I'M NOT LIVING THAT ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS BECAUSE I'M NO LONGER IN THE BUILDING EVERY DAY BUT I DO HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH.

>> AND THE BILL THAT WAS PASSED DOES ADDRESS GETTING RETIRED TEACHERS TO COME BACK IN AND WAVING SOME OF THOSE RETIREMENT RULES.

COMMISSIONER GLASS, DO YOU KNOW IF THAT'S ALREADY IN PLAY?

AND HOW MANY TEACHERS ARE -- OR OTHER CERTIFIED CLASSIFIED STAFF ARE COMING BACK BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITY HAS NOW PRESENTED ITSELF TO DO THAT?

>> WELL, WE'RE JUST FINDING THIS OUT IN REAL TIME AND THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

WE DO KNOW THAT IN NATIONAL SURVEYS THAT WERE CONDUCTED THAT ASKED EDUCATORS ABOUT THEIR PLANS GOING FORWARD, WE SAW ABOUT A QUARTER OF RESPONDENTS IN THESE NATIONAL STUDIES INDICATE THAT THEY WERE CONSIDERING LEAVING THE PROFESSION EARLIER THAN EXPECTED.

>> BECAUSE OF COVID?

>> BECAUSE OF ALL THE COVID DISRUPTION AND ALL THE STRESS THAT EVERYONE'S LIVED WITH OVER THESE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

BUT WE ARE NOT SEEING SO FAR RETIREMENTS COME IN AT HIGHER NUMBERS THAN THEY HAD IN THE PAST, SO THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE COMING INTO PLAY.

BUT AGAIN WE'RE STILL EARLY.

WE MAY SEE THAT HAPPEN AS WE SORT OF EMERGE FROM THIS.

WE MAY SEE A LOT OF BURN-OUT AND PEOPLE MAKE DIFFERENT DECISIONS, BUT FOR RIGHT NOW THE RETIREMENT NUMBERS SEEM TO BE HOLDING WITHIN HISTORICAL BOUNDS.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY, YOU'RE IN THE EDUCATION SPACE.

>> YES.

>> I'M SURE YOUR CIRCLE OF EDUCATORS IS VAST, AS REPRESENTATIVE RILEY'S IS.

SO WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THE BURN-OUT AMONG EDUCATORS AND ALL OF THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH, EVEN SECONDARY TRAUMA?

>> TEACHERS ARE EXHAUSTED.

I MEAN, IT IS JUST PROBABLY LIKE THE NURSING MEDICAL FIELD.

WE'RE JUST -- WE'RE THERE.

WE'RE READY.

WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

BUT WHEN YOU HAVE DAY IN AND DAY OUT, YOU KNOW, CLASSROOMS THAT AREN'T COVERED BY SUBSTITUTES, WELL, WHO IS GOING TO COVER THEM?

DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATORS, DIFFERENT TEACHERS.

THE STUDENTS WITH BEHAVIOR ISSUES.

WE HAVE QUITE A FEW STUDENTS WHO ARE IN KINDERGARTEN WHO NEVER WENT TO PRESCHOOL WHO HAVE UNIDENTIFIED DISABILITIES.

SO KIDS WITH AUTISM WHO HAVE VERY BIG NEEDS WHO DON'T HAVE THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT THAT THEY WOULD HAVE HAD THEY HAVE GONE TO PRESCHOOL, BEEN IDENTIFIED, YOU KNOW.

HAVING A CHILD WITHOUT THE SUPPORTS, THE WITH SEVERE DISABILITY IN YOUR CLASSROOM IS DIFFICULT FOR YOU AND FOR ALL THE OTHER CHILDREN.

BUT THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE YOUR WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH ADMIN, YOUR PLCs WE CALL THEM, AND WHAT IS THE FOCUS?

THE FOCUS IS HOW ARE WE DOING ON OUR STANDARDS TO GET READY FOR TESTING.

AND THAT'S VERY FRUSTRATING FOR EDUCATORS BECAUSE OUR CHILDREN HAVE JUST BEEN THROUGH AND ARE STILL LIVING IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

AND WE TRY AS MUCH AS WE CAN, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE PRESSURE OF THESE CHILDREN THE END OF THE YEAR HAVE TO TAKE THE K-PREP, AND THEN THE HIGH STAKES NATURE OF THE TESTING MEANS YOU HAVE TO EMPHASIZE WITH THAT THEY NEED TO LEARN FOR THAT, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE CHILDREN JUST LIKE YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, SECOND GRADERS, WHO THE LAST TIME THEY WERE IN A BUILDING, IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE MIDDLE OF KIDNEY.

SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT -- OF KINDERGARTEN.

SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BASICALLY BE JUDGED ON HOW THE CHILDREN DO ON AN END OF YEAR TEST AFTER THEIR SCHOOLING HAS BEEN DISRUPTED.

THERE IS A LOT OF EDUCATION THAT HAPPENED DURING NTI, BUT IT WAS DISRUPTIVE.

IT WAS NOT THE SAME AS HAVING ALL OUR CHILDREN IN IN-PERSON.

SO I JUST THINK IT ALL BOILS DOWN SOMETIMES TO THAT FRUSTRATION THAT ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE, WE CAN'T JUST TAKE CARE OF THE SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL NEEDS.

WE CAN'T JUST MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS DOING READING AND HAVING MATH.

WE HAVE TO PREPARE FOR TESTING.

AND THAT'S A HEAVY BURDEN FOR US.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TIE POINT THAT SHE MADE BECAUSE YOU ARE A SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER, REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU KNOW AS WELL AS THE OTHER PANELISTS HERE THAT A WEEK BEFORE LAST THE ACU CLU SENT A LETTER TO THE SCHOOL BOARD, THE SUMS URGING MASK MANDATES BECAUSE OF SOME LEGAL RIGHTS THAT COULD BE IMPAIRED TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS OR OTHER DISABILITIES, AND SO THEY SENT US THIS STATEMENT.

THIS COMES FROM CORY SHAPIRO WHO IS THE LEGAL DIRECTOR OF THE ACLU KENTUCKY.

IT'S KIND OF ALLEGED BUT WE'LL READ IT TO YOU.

IT SAYS, "THE ACLU OF KENTUCKY APPLAUDS THE VIRGINIAS MAJORITY OF KENTUCKY SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE ADOPTED UNIVERSAL MASKING REQUIREMENTS AND CHOSEN TO MAKE THEIR SCHOOLS ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS AS REQUIRED UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 AND THE REHABILITATION ACT, BUT FOR THOSE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE CHOSEN TO MAKE MASKING OPTIONAL, THEY'RE PUTTING THEIR MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS AT RISK AND POTENTIALLY EXPOSING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO LIABILITY UNDER FEDERAL DISABILITY RIGHTS LAWS.

FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES, THEY GO ON TO SAY, REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SO ALL CHILDREN CAN SAFELY ACCESS PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IF SCHOOL DISTRICTS CONTINUE IGNORING THESE VERY SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE PRECAUTIONS THE ACLU SAYS, THEY WILL FORCE SOME CHILDREN TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THEIR HEALTH AND EDUCATION.

THE DECISION MASKING IS NOT A POLITICAL CHOICE ANY MORE THAN INSTALLING A WHEELCHAIR RAMP P. ALTHOUGH MOST SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE CHOSEN TO DO THE RIGHT THING, THE LEGISLATURE HAD NO BASIS OF FOR UNDERMINING STATE EDUCATION EXPERTS WHO ACCURATELY RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR UNIVERSAL MASKING THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH.

INDEED, MULTIPLE FEDERAL COURTS HAVE AGREED THAT THE ADA REQUIRES PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO IMPLEMENT UNIVERSAL MASKING AS A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS WITH UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONS."

NOW, I ASKED MR. SHAPIRO IF HE HAD HEARD FROM ANY PARENTS IN THOSE SIX DISTRICTS THAT HAD VOTED AGAINST MASKING IF THEY'RE SEEKING TO LAUNCH IN YOU LEGAL CHALLENGES, AND HE REPLIED, AS A GOOD LAWYER WOULD, THAT'S BEEN SPEAKING WITH SOME PARENTS IN ONE DISTRICT, AND THEY HAVE CONCERNS BUT HE CANNOT COMMENT ON THEIR LEGAL STRATEGY.

SO I KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY, THAT THIS IS A CONCERN OF YOURS AND I THINK THIS WAS AN ARGUMENT THAT YOU MADE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR CURING THE SPECIAL SESSION.

SO FURTHER COMMENT ON THIS.

>> YES.

WELL, I'LL JUST START WITH WEARING A MASK IS A VERY REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION, AND YOU WOULD JUST NOT BELIEVE HOW EASILY IT IS FOR EVEN OUR YOUNGEST STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN TO WEAR THEIR MASK, AND TO KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO POSSIBLY KEEP A CHILD WITH UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS SAFE, TO ME IT'S A NO-BRAINER, AND SO, YES, IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING THAT A CHILD MIGHT BE DENIED THEIR RIGHT TO A FREE, APPROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION BECAUSE THE DECISION WAS MADE TO ALLOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO NOT REQUIRE THE SAFETY MEASURE.

SO IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING.

>> SO YOU'RE A JD, ERIC, AND YOU'RE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE ACLU'S POSITION AND THEIR STATEMENT.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD COME FROM THIS?

ARE SCHOOL BOARDS CONCERNED ABOUT POTENTIAL LIABILITIES AND LAWSUITS THAT COULD COME FROM THEIR ACTIONS?

>> LEGAL LIABILITY AND LAWSUITS IS SOMETHING WE'RE ALWAYS CONCERNED WITH.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND EXPOSED IN KENTUCKY DO NOT HAVE THE I HAVE SAY.

LEVEL OF IMMUNITY FROM A LAWSUIT THAT A STATE LEGISLATURE DOES.

WE ARE FREQUENTLY SUED FOR MANY THINGS THIS.

I'M AWARE OF THE ACLU LETTER.

WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN IN SOME OTHER STATES IS WHERE THE STATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ACTUALLY PROHIBITED A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD FROM POSSIBLY DOING THEIR OWN LOCAL MASK MANDATE AND SO THAT IS, OF COURSE, NOT WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE HERE WHICH MAKES THE SITUATION SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS EVEN IN THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE NOT HAD A UNIVERSAL MAC MANDATE, THERE ARE LARYNG STRATEGIES OF SEVERAL OTHER THINGS COMING FROM ITS STATE HEALTH GUIDANCE AND THE CDC THAT REALLY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.

THEY HAVE SAID MASKING AND FACE COVERINGS IS ONE ASPECT OF INSPECT OF MITIGATING THE RISK OF TRANSMITTING THE VIRUS.

THERE ARE OTHERS, FROM THE BEGINNING THEY SAID DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH VIRUS IS IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR HOW MUCH COMMUNITY SPREAD THERE IS, YOU CAN REMOVE OR ADD VARIOUS LAYERS.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MANY DISTRICTS ARE LOOKING TO DO NOW BECAUSE OF SENATE BILL 1 IS TO DO MORE OF THE TEST TO STAY APPROACH.

SEVERAL DISTRICTS WORKING WITH THEIR LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT ADOPTED THAT EVEN BEFORE THE BILL.

ONE THING THAT WE NEEDED FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS SOME CLARITY TO SAY THIS IS POSSIBLE EVERYWHERE.

SOME LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS WEREN'T SURE THEY COULD DO IT.

NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT CLARITY MANY DISTRICTS HAVE ADOPTED IT.

MORE EVERY DAY.

I BELIEVE MORGAN COUNTY ANNOUNCED TODAY THEIR PLAN STARTS TOMORROW.

>> FAYETTE COUNTY STARTED THEIR PILOT PROGRAM TODAY.

>> SO I THINK THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE STARTED THAT ALREADY, WITHIN A WEEK OR SO IT IS SHOWING TREMENDOUS SUCCESS AT KEEPING STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM SAFELY, WHICH IS THE GOAL, AGAIN, THE NUMBER ONE GOAL EVERYONE IN THE CONVERSATION.

EVEN THAT ALONE IS SOMETHING IN THE DISTRICTS THAT HAVE MASKING OR THOSE THAT DON'T.

THAT IS ONE EXAMPLE OF ANOTHER MITIGATION STRATEGY THAT LOCALS ARE PUTTING INTO PLACE SO FAR WITH A LOT OF SUCCESS.

>> COMMISSIONER GLASS, I WANT YOU TO KIND OF COMMENT, MAYBE EXPLAIN FURTHER THIS TEST TO STAY KIND OF PROGRAM TO KIND OF KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL EVEN IF THEY'VE HAD AN EXPOSURE TO COVID-19.

>> SURE.

WHEN A STUDENT IS EXPOSED OR IS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO IS COVID POSITIVE, TYPICALLY THEY'RE QUARANTINED, AND CANTERED FOR A PERIOD OF TEN DAYS.

SO THE TEST TO STAY MODEL WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THAT CLOSE PROXIMITY AND WEARING A MASK, AS LONG AS YOU WILL TEST DAILY AND SHOW A NEGATIVE TEST, YOU CAN REMAIN IN SCHOOL.

SO THAT'S CERTAINLY MUCH BETTER AT KEEPING STUDENTS IN SCHOOL.

THE CHALLENGE IS THAT IT REQUIRES A LOT OF RESOURCES, REQUIRES A LOT OF TESTS AND ANALYSIS TO DO THAT YOU.

MIGHT IMAGINE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS THAT'S NECESSARY TEST DAILY, SO IT'S A RESOURCE INTENSIVE APPROACH BUT IT IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF KEEPING KIDS IN SCHOOL IF A COMMUNITY CAN PULL IT OFF.

>> SO IS THERE A RAPID TEST OR A PCR TEST?

>> I THINK IT DEPENDS ON -- >> OR IT CAN BE BOTH.

>> I BELIEVE IT CAN BE EITHER ONE, AND DEPENDING ON WHICH ONE YOU USE, THEN THE PARAMETERS OF HOW FREQUENTLY YOU TEST MIGHT BE DIFFERENT.

>> RIGHT.

SO THERE'S NO MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF DAYS YOU TEST OR IS THERE A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF DAYS YOU TEST?

>> I BELIEVE ONE FORM OF THE TEST YOU CAN DO EVERY OTHER DAY FOR THE EIGHT DAYS, AND IF ALL OF THOSE ARE NEGATIVE YOU COULD HAVE REMAINED THAT ENTIRE TIME.

ANOTHER ONE IT'S EVERY DAY FOR I BELIEVE AT MOST EIGHT DAYS.

CAPACITY TO DO THAT IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE, WITHOUT QUESTION.

SOME LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND TESTING PROVIDERS AREN'T ABLE DO GET IT UP AND RUNNING YET AND THAT IS DISABILITY GOING TO BE AN ISSUE.

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUED GUIDANCE SO FROM AN EDUCATIONAL PROTECT YOU HAVE THE WE POINT TO THEM AND SAY LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY.

ONE OF THE PRESERVING IN THE BILL WAS LIFT CAN UP THIS AS AN OPTION AND DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO CREATE GUIDANCE AROUND THIS MODEL.

>> SO WE KNOW THAT FAYETTE COUNTY STARTED THEIRS TODAY WITH THREE OR SO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND A COUPLE OF MIDDLE SCHOOLS.

THEY'RE DOING ON MONDAYS, WEDNESDAY AND IS FRIDAYS.

SO LIKE YOU SAID, IT CAN -- STRATEGY CAN VARY, I GUESS.

>> ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND, THOUGH, EVERYWHERE NO MATTER WHICH KIND OF TEST YOU'RE USING IF IT'S DAILY OR EVERY OTHER DAY, THE ENTIRE THING IS OPTIONAL FOR A DISTRICT OH TO USE IT AND OPTIONAL FOR EACH STUDENT AND PARENT, SO I PLEASE URGE EVERYONE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONSTERNATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA WHEN A LETTER ANNOUNCES THIS.

A LOT OF FOLKS HAVE GONE TO FACEBOOK WITH STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT IT.

IT IS OPTIONAL.

>> YOU HAVE TO OPT IN AND NOT OPT OUT.

I THINK THAT'S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO CLARIFY THAT.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD ON THE TEST TO STAY?

>> I THINK MY WIFE IS A NURSE, AN RN, AND WHEN I FIRST TOLD HER ABOUT -- I THINK THE FIRST SCHOOL SYSTEM I HEARD WAS DOING IT WAS GREENE COUNTY, AND WHEN I HEARD THEY WERE DOING IT, SHE THOUGHT BASS THANK WAS A GREAT IDEA, AND I KNOW -- I THINK THAT SCHOOL SYSTEM DOES IT ANYBODY WHO IS IN CLOSE CONTACT GETS TESTED, AND THEIR TEST IS SIX DAYS, THE BEST I REMEMBER.

>> SIX DAYS IN A ROW.

>> SIX DAYS IN A ROW.

THE WEEKEND YOU DO NOT GET TESTED OBVIOUSLY, BUT THAT COUNCIL AS A DAY AS LONG AS THE FOLLOWING MONDAY YOU GET TESTED AS NEGATIVE.

COUNTS AS A DAY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE I TALKED TO THAT ARE MEDICAL PEOPLE FELT LIKE THAT WAS A VERY GOOD PROGRAM.

AND AGAIN, THE PROBLEM IS THAT LOGISTICALLY, THE NUMBER OF TESTS AVAILABLE, THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH IT.

IF WE HAD ENOUGH TESTS FOR EVERYBODY, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL SYSTEM TO USE.

BUT MANY SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE USING IT VERY EFFECTIVELY.

>> SO WAS THERE SOME FEDERAL MONEY, COMMISSIONER GLASS WEEK THAT CAN HELP DISTRICTS WITH THIS TEST TO STAY?

>> THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ESTABLISHED A TENSION PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE STATE AND SHOW THAT'S AN OPT IN MODEL FOR SCHOOLS, BUT WERE THAT AND THE TEST TO STAY APPROACH BEING USED, WE SEE THIS REALLY TAKING IDENTIFY AND BE KUDOS AND HATS OFF TO DR. STACK.

WE HAD THE FORESIGHT TO THINK WHERE WE MAY NEE THIS TESTING PROGRAMS EVEN AS THE NUMBERS WERE DECLINING.

WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE IT.

>> IT'S NOT STATE YOUR NAMIZED TYPE OF THING, RIGHT?

SO IT CAN BE TAILORED TO A PARTICULAR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY NOWSKI BOJANOWSKY, DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT TEST TO STAY OR ANY CONCERNS ABOUT IT?

>> ACTUALLY, SO WE DO HAVE A SCHOOL NURSE IN OUR BUILDING, WHICH IS FABULOUS, BUT I TELL YOU SHE'S BUSY ALL DAY WITH HER REGULAR SCHOOL NURSING DUTIES AND THEN CONTACT TRACING AND SO FORTH, SO IF WE WERE TO DO TEST AND STAY TYPE MODEL IN OUR BUILDING, IT WOULD DEFINITELY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO HANDLE THE LOGISTICS OF IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT KEEPS OUR CHILDREN MORE IN SCHOOL.

I KNOW SOME PEOPLE ARE AFRAID, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A CONCERN, SO IF YOU TEST AND THEY'RE NOT POSITIVE, YOU TEST AND THEY'RE NOT POSITIVE.

ON DAY THEE IF THEY TEST POSITIVE, DOES THAT MEAN WE HAVE TO GO BACK OVER THE CHILD THEY INTERACTED WITH?

AND EDUCATORS, VIEWERS MAY NOT KNOW THIS, BUT EDUCATORS TAKE VERY DETAILED NOTES ABOUT WHERE THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN SEATING CHARTS, WHERE THEY ARE IN LINE, WHERE THEY GO IN THE LUNCHROOM SO THAT THAT CONTACT TRACING CAN HAPPEN BUT HOW FAR BACK WOULD WE HAVE TO DO OUR CONTACT TRACING IF A CHILD BECOMES POSITIVE OF A COUPLE OF THE DAYS?

>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

AND WE ALWAYS GET THIS QUESTION ABOUT WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DOES THE TEST TO STAY POLICY HAVE ON SPORTS.

ERIC DENIED, DO WE KNOW?

I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO BE JULIAN TACKETT HERE.

BUT -- OR COMMISSIONER.

>> THE COMMISSIONER A MOMENT AGO VERY ACCURATELY SAID, WELL, WE ALSO SHARE THAT WE SPEAK ABOUT THE EDUCATION OPERATIONS AND LEAVE THE HEALTH GUIDELINES TO SOME OF OUR HEALTH OFFICIALS.

VERY SIMILAR THE ATHLETICS.

I THINK PART OF THE CONCERN ALL THE WAY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO GET INVOLVED IN SOME OF THE ATHLETIC DISCUSSIONS.

THEY REALLY AREN'T WITH THE KHSAA AND KNOW THE DETAILS AND INS AND OUT OF HOW THEIR BYLAWS WORK AND.

I THINK WE WANT EVERYONE TO GO TO THE SOURCE AND TO MEET WITH THEM AND DISCUSS WITH THEM THE APPROACH THAT THEY WILL TAKE ON SOME OF THE ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS, IN TERMS OF THE CROWDS THAT CAN BE THERE AND STUDENTS AND HOW THOSE QUARANTINE RULES WORK.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY GUIDANCE FROM THE KDE ON THAT?

>> ON THE ATHLETICS COMPONENT?

>> YES.

>> AS ERIC SAID, WE DEFER TO KHSAA ON THOSE SORTS OF DECISIONS BUT WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT A LOT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OPERATIONS AND HOW THINGS HAPPENING IN SCHOOLS AND HOW INNINGS ARE HAPPENING IN ATHLETICS.

>> EXACTLY.

ARE THERE OTHER GUIDANCE POINTS FROM THE KDE THAT WE HAVEN'T TOUCHED ON THAT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE COMMUNICATE TO OUR AUDIENCE?

>> I THINK WE'VE GONE THROUGH GUIDANCE OF THE NEW STATUTES AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE SPENT TIME PICKING ON REPRESENTATIVE RILEY AND REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY'S BILL.

I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT NO ONE GOT EVERYTHING THEY WANTED.

OUTED EITHER PARTY THAT GOT EVERYTHING THEY WANTED OUT OF THIS.

BUT THERE WERE SOME GOOD THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID WITH THIS.

IT CREATED IS ON THE FLEXIBILITY AND FACILITATE FOR SCHOOLS THAT WERE GOOD THINGS.

WILL IT BE ENOUGH IS THE QUESTION.

IS IT ENOUGH TO GET US THROUGH UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE COMES BACK TOGETHER IN JANUARY?

WE HOPE THAT WE'RE THROUGH THIS.

WE'VE GOT A PLATEAUING OF THE NUMBER OF CASES NOW.

WE ARE POTENTIALLY ON THE CUSP OF VACCINATIONS BEING AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE AGES FIVE TO 11.

THESE THINGS TOGETHER MAY END UP WITH EXPONENTIAL DECLINE AND RAY LOT MORE SAFETY IN SCHOOLS.

SO I THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION NOW, IS WHEN DOES THIS END AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE.

SO WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AHEAD, I THINK KEEP OUR OPTIONS OPEN AND KEEP WORKING WITH THE DATA THAT WE HAVE IN A DYNAMIC SITUATION P TO PROTECT OUR KIDS AND KEEP THEM IN SCHOOL.

>> REPRESENTATIVE BOJANOWSKY, AS WE ARE NEARING THE THREE MINUTE MARK OF OUR PROGRAM, I WANT TO ASK YOU.

SO WHEN THE LEGISLATURES GOES BACK IN EARLY YARN JANUARY, THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M SURE YOU WILL BE TALKING ABOUT.

ARE YOU ALREADY THINKING ABOUT SOME POLICY PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU'RE PREPARED TO MAKE WHEN THE LEGISLATURE RECONVENES IN FRANKFORT IN JANUARY?

>> SHOW WHAT I HAVE BEEN FOCUSING ON, AND I KNOW THIS SHOW WASN'T ABOUT THE SHOOTING THAT LED TO THE DEATH OF AN EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT, BUT WHAT I'M REALLY THINKING ABOUT STEMS INTO THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT THAT COVID MAY HAVE HAD ON SOME OF THE FAMILIES AND WHAT CAN WE DO TO SUPPORT SOME OF OUR YOUNG STUDENTS TO REALLY GET THEIR, DEAL WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR ISSUES, WHATEVER UNDERLYING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THERE ARE, TO MAKE THEM WANT TO BE ENGAGED IN THEIR EDUCATION.

SO THOSE ARE SOME THOUGHTS I HAVE TO TRY TO KEEP OUR KIDS IN SCHOOL, TO GET TO WHERE THEY ARE COLLEGE OR CAREER READY, AS OPPOSED TO POTENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, BECOMING IN A SITUATION WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT THEM TO BE IN.

SO OTHERS MY THOUGHTS COMING UP TO THE NEXT SESSION, BACK TO EARLY LITERACY, EDUCATION FUNDING, JUST THE NORMAL SCHOOL THINGS AS OPPOSED TO COVID SPECIFIC.

I THINK ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THINGS THAT THIS JUST BRINGS BACK TO THE SURFACE IS WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE EMPHASIS ON END-OF-YEAR TESTING.

IT'S JUST ABSOLUTE.

AND GOING THROUGH A SITUATION LIKE THIS WHERE WE HAVE TO DO TESTING AND FOCUS ON THAT IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT A LOT OF CHILDREN HAD THEIR LEARNING EVERLY SEVERELY DISRUPTED FOR A YEAR, IT'S TIME TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAT CAN ALLOW OUR KIDS TO HAVE HIGH QUALITY, DEEPER LEARNING, AN EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION, BUT NOT A FOCUS ON STANDARDIZED TESTING.

>> WELL, THAT'S NOT A NEW CONVERSATION IN KENTUCKY CERTAINLY, AND WE'LL SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

THANK YOU ALL JUST 45 SECOND LEFT.

IT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION TO HAVE JUST TO KIND OF REEVALUATE THE SESSION, REFRESH YOUR MEMORIES ABOUT WHAT WAS PASSED AND HOPEFULLY HELP IT RESONATE WITH YOU ON WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU.

SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

WE'LL BE FOLLOWING IT.

THESE ISSUES AND MORE ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

YOU CAN MAKE SURE HOPEFULLY THAT YOU TUNE IN ON FRIDAY NIGHT WHERE BILL BRYANT AND PANEL OF WORK, JOURNALISTS WILL DISCUSS THE WEEK NEWS.

THAT'S ON A FRIDAY 8:00 EASTERN, 7:00 CENTRAL.

NEXT MONDAY NIGHT WE STILL TALK ABOUT UNDER THE KNOWN AS OF COVID.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT NATURAL OR ACQUIRED IMMUNITY VERSUS VACCINATION AND SO MUCH MORE.

SO WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL COME BACK RIGHT HERE AT 8:00 EASTERN, SEVEN CENTRAL ON KET FORTE TONIGHT.

I'M RENE LEN.

UNTIL RENEE SHAW REN.