November 2020
Kentucky school districts urged to work on diversity, equity and inclusion for all students, staff
Schools should be safe havens for students and staff, promoting diversity, equity and inclusion for all, the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) new chief equity officer said during the Special Superintendents’ Webcast on Nov. 10.
October 2020
Communication, cooperation key in managing COVID-19, Kentucky school and health leaders say
Three superintendents from around Kentucky and the leaders of their local health departments compared COVID-19 experiences during the Oct. 13 Special Superintendents’ Webcast. All agreed that close cooperation between schools, health authorities and local officials are essential to controlling outbreaks.
September 2020
Kentucky superintendents share school reopening advice, get revised metric for holding in-person classes
Participants in the Kentucky Department of Education’s Sept. 29 Special Superintendents’ Webcast heard from leaders of four school districts on how reopening to in-person instruction amid the pandemic has gone so far, and from state officials about updates to the color-coded metric used to determine whether to hold in-person classes.
August 2020
KDE, superintendents discuss delay of in-person school to Sept. 28 due to COVID-19
Discussion during the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) Aug. 11 Special Superintendents’ Webcast focused on Gov. Andy Beshear’s recommendation that schools delay holding in-person classes until at least Sept. 28 due to the high rate of COVID-19 in Kentucky.
July 2020
Kentucky superintendents hear KMEA guidance on fall music classes, band practice
Guidance is now available from the Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) on how to hold music classes and operate school bands amid the uncertainty over the COVID-19 pandemic, superintendents were told during the Kentucky Department of Education’s Special Superintendents’ Webcast on July 14.
Rules for school sports due to COVID-19 in the works, Kentucky superintendents told
As the usual opening practice dates for fall sports approach, Kentucky school districts are concerned about how to operate athletic programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioner Julian Tackett of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) answered some imminent questions Tuesday during the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE) weekly Special Superintendents’ Webcast.
COVID-19 measures temporary but vital, KDE officials tell superintendents
The vital importance of wearing masks, staying 6 feet apart and tailoring ways for local school districts to meet those goals dominated the Special Superintendents’ Webcast on June 30.
June 2020
Kentucky superintendents ask public health about face masks, other COVID-19 standards
Gov. Andy Beshear will release the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s (DPH) Healthy at School guidance document Wednesday afternoon, Interim Commissioner of Education Kevin C. Brown told school superintendents during the weekly Special Superintendents’ Webcast June 23.
KDE to meet with Kentucky Department for Public Health to hone reopening guidance
Officials from the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) joined the June 9 Special Superintendents’ Webcast on COVID-19 to answer questions from Kentucky’s superintendents about reopening schools this fall.
February 2021
Kentucky superintendents hear ideas on use of ESSER II funds
Superintendents of five public school districts shared how they will use new federal ESSER II funding. Returning to in-person classes, administration of statewide assessments and using retired teachers as substitutes also was discussed.