LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — COVID-19 has given new meaning to the term, homework. Now parents across Fayette County are getting used to the idea of having to deal with remote learning for at least two more months.
On Wednesday, Fayette County Public School board members, led by Superintendent Manny Caulk, decided to punt on in-person learning, leaving the NTI/2DL program in place until January at the earliest.
"It's challenging," said attorney and parent Andrea Welker. "It gets tiring for the kids, but for us parents too."
Matt Sawyers, who, like Andrea, preferred shifting to a hybrid model, which included at least a few days in school, is also experiencing the ups and downs of having the kids at home all day, every day.
"Some days you wake up, and they're playing during their downtime, and you think, okay, this is good. Other days you wake up, and it's a disaster! Clothes are flying everywhere; the whole house is a wreck," he said.
Matt and Andrea are taking a measured approach to the district's decision. Others, they've noticed, have not been as diplomatic.
"I'm a glutton for torture," Sawyers said, "so I checked out the threads on social media. Some of my friends are more reasonable than others."
Andrea saw some of those posts too. She wants her kids to go back to school, but only if it can be done safely. She felt there were some holes in the hybrid plan, the district ultimately decided against using.
"My fingers are crossed that we are going to learn some things in the next couple of months that we can go back full time and kids can be in a classroom, and that everyone can be safe doing it," she said. Welker then acknowledged that our community spread rate would likely have to drop considerably for that to happen.
"Are we willing to do it if it's safe? Absolutely! But not at the detriment of everyone's health and safety." Welker added.
Sawyers is just hoping the district isn't using a kick-the-can-down-the-road approach by offering false hope.
"Yes, that's when you'll see many parents get really frustrated," Sawyers said. "If you're talking about going back (to school) five days a week, then have a plan to go back five days a week."
