Ending the school year
May 27, 2020
Calendar
FCPS, like JCPS, followed Governor Beshear’s recommendation on April 20 to end in-person instruction for the remainder of the year. FCPS will also complete classes on May 27 this year, the same day as JCPS.
JCPS, like FCPS, followed Governor Beshear’s recommendation on April 20 to end in-person instruction for the remainder of the year. JCPS will also complete classes on May 27 this year, the same day as FCPS.
Meals
FCPS had made some efforts to provide for students with meal drop-off sites using the county’s bus routes. This was suspended on March 26 after a member of the Transportation Department who was involved in handing out meals tested positive for COVID-19. Although the meal routes had been suspended, FCPS opened meal pick-up sites on April 13 at 21 schools, limited to twice per week.
As of April 20, JCPS has served over 500,000 meals at over 60 emergency food sites across the district open for breakfast and lunch every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. However, the number of students receiving meals is only a fraction of what’s regularly served during school hours, which has caused some concern among JCPS officials. There are currently 60,000 JCPS students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program, but only a fraction are actually getting food from JCPS.
Graduation, prom, and other senior activities
FCPS: “We do not know what the next six weeks will look like for our community, but we do know how important these traditions are for our students, staff, and families. Please be assured that we are actively exploring possible ways to safely celebrate the end of the school year and the accomplishments of our amazing young people. We will continue to share information as it becomes available,” Superintendent Manny Caulk said in the email. While nothing is finalized, PLD is beginning to plan a virtual graduation ceremony. In addition to this, PLD will distribute signs to seniors on April 26.
JCPS: While Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio has promised seniors in-person graduation, Governor Andy Beshear said in his April 20 update that any large gathering, including a commencement ceremony, “threatens the health of our communities.” Some Kentucky schools are getting creative with ways to honor senior athletes. The bipartisan passage of Senate Bill 158 changed the requirements for next year’s graduates (current juniors), including the elimination of state testing to graduate. However, no word has come from the district about changing requirements for the class of 2020 as of the time of writing