The Blubber

Two school districts in eastern Kentucky have made the decision to cancel in-person classes due to a surge in illnesses, including Covid-19, respiratory viruses, and strep throat among students and staff. The Lee County School District, with about 900 students, reported a significant decrease in attendance due to various illnesses, causing concern for the well-being of the school community.

Lee County's attendance rate dropped from 82% to 81% within a week, accompanied by 14 staff members being absent due to illnesses. The school district responded by sanitizing all buildings and buses, canceling student activities for the week, and shifting to remote learning. In-person classes are set to resume the following week, and students who previously had Covid-19 will be required to wear masks for five days upon their return.

Similarly, the Magoffin County Schools, enrolling around 1,800 students, experienced a drop in student attendance from 95% to 83% due to illness-related absences. As a result, both school districts have taken measures to prioritize the health and safety of their students and staff members by implementing remote learning for the affected period.