The Christian County school system today joined a growing number of schools and universities across the country that will close in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Christian County Public Schools will close Monday, March 16, and won’t reopen until after spring break, on April 10.
Students, teachers and staff are expected to be at school on Friday, March 13. The closure will begin on Monday.
In addition, closures have been announced in the Todd County School District, March 16 to 27, and at University Heights Academy, March 16 to 20. UHA plans to reassess at the end of the week and determine if the private school should reopen or extend the closure.
Prior to the decision to suspend classes in the local public schools, Superintendent Mary Ann Gemmill announced on the district’s website that schools were following the advice of Gov. Andy Beshear.
Gemmill wrote, “Yesterday Superintendents across the state participated in a conference call with Governor Beshear. We received a clear message from the Governor that schools should be prepared for the possibility of closure in the near future because of the coronavirus.
“I am encouraging parents to start making plans now, in case the Governor calls for shutting down public schools because of the virus. Our district has “non-traditional” student instruction plans available in digital and paper format should the Governor close public schools. Please be on alert for additional updates as we receive them.”
Other schools in Western Kentucky that announced plans to close include:
- Ballard County Schools will close Monday, March 16.
- Calloway County Schools will close Monday, March 16, for a period of two weeks. Students are expected to attend school Friday, March 13, to receive information regarding a Non-Traditional Instruction Plan.
- Hopkins County Schools will close Monday March 16, through Friday, March 27. Students are expected to attend school Friday, March 13.
- Graves County Schools will close Monday, March 16, through Friday March 27. School will be in session Friday, March 13, to share plans with students.
- Marshall County Schools will close Friday, March 13, through March 29. Information will be sent regarding a Non-Traditional Instruction Plan through an automated phone call and through email.
- Mayfield Independent Schools will close for at least two weeks, starting Monday, March 16. Students are encouraged to attend school Friday, March 13 to share plans.
- McLean County Schools will close Monday, March 16.
- Paducah Public Schools will close Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 27. Faculty and staff are expected to report Monday and Tuesday, with Non-Traditional Instruction expected to begin for students Wednesday, March 18.
(WKMS contributed to this report.)
(Jennifer P. Brown is the editor and founder of Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org.)
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
