OH & KY K-12 Schools Will Remain Closed Through School Year

Kentucky and Ohio are now joining Indiana to stop in-person learning for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year.

(Frankfort, Ky./Columbus, Oh.) – On Monday, Gov. Andy Beshear and Mike Dewine announced that all K-12 schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year.

"We balanced many issues in arriving at this decision. In the end, I believe this is what is best to protect the health of our children, our teachers, and our administrators," said Governor DeWine. "While our buildings are closed, we know that students continue to learn in new and innovative ways. I thank all of our teachers, administrators, support staff, and parents for all they have done and will continue to do in these challenging times."

Governor DeWine said that no decisions have been made regarding whether or not schools will reopen in the fall. 

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, among all Kentuckians, is disappointed but explains that this was part of the many sacrifices necessary to fight the coronavirus. 

“It’s not fair, it’s not. But a worldwide pandemic has hit us and those of you who are missing out on these opportunities, we need your help and we need your sacrifice,” Governor Beshear said. “Ultimately, the experience you are losing is hard, but your willingness to do it is going to help us save lives.”

Gov. Beshear said that this advice is coming from every health care professional consulted, and is being following in many states, including Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee.

This change is in line with newly released guidelines from the White House and Kentucky’s own newly announced benchmarks to start reopening the state’s economy.

“I know for many this is hard,” the Kentucky Governor said. “We have seniors that were looking forward to an in-person graduation and a prom. I’ve got a son who’s graduating from elementary school and we have every student out there who has lost this time to be able to be with their classmates and there for in-person instruction.”

Beshear noted that schools are asked to continue nontraditional instruction and food service for students in need.