Christian County Public Schools will continue non-traditional, remote instruction next week, spokesman John Rittenhouse announced Friday afternoon.
The announcement cited the community’s recent surge of coronavirus cases, capacity limits at Jennie Stuart Medical Center and 82 virus cases and quarantines of CCPS staff.
Last month, the school board approved the district’s return on Jan. 6 under an “aggressive advisory hybrid” plan. However, the day before classes were expected to resume, district officials announced the return would be postponed until Monday, Jan. 11, because of the “unprecedented spike in COVID cases and hospitalizations” over the previous 48 hours.
Although Tuesday’s statement indicated that all extracurricular and sports activities, including practices, would be canceled until in-person instruction resumes, today’s release stated that practices could resume with modifications Monday. However, no games would be played next week.
Teachers will continue to report to their school buildings to facilitate online instruction.
Each school also will maintain its regular meal schedule during NTI and will distribute three-meal bundles daily from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Distribution locations are on the CCPS website.
The district plans to provide an update to parents and community members on Jan. 15, according to the release.
Jennie Stuart sees unprecedented growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations
As of Friday morning, 39 patients were hospitalized at Jennie Stuart Medical Center with coronavirus, according to spokeswoman Selina Staub. The total was down from a record high of 42 on Thursday.
Before the decrease Friday, the hospital saw the most prolonged, persistent and uninterrupted growth in the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients since the pandemic began.
The number of hospitalizations includes patients admitted to the hospital, but doesn’t reflect those who receive medical treatment in the emergency department, physicians’ offices or the hospital’s urgent care, Staub said.
“That number would be much higher than the number of patients hospitalized with COVID,” she added.
Hoptown Chronicle has requested additional details about the hospital’s capacity, specifically regarding the intensive and progressive care units — where the sickest COVID-19 patients receive treatment.
Local private schools returned to classes Monday
Despite the delay to return to in-person classes by CCPS, University Heights Academy and Heritage Christian Academy have both resumed in-person instruction, school officials confirmed.
“When there has been any possible exposure, they have kept their children home,” UHA Headmaster Beth Unfried told Hoptown Chronicle Thursday. “At this moment, we feel like we can continue.”
Julia Hunter is the engagement editor for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at julia@hoptownchronicle.org.
