Whitley County schools will make a decision on canceling classes Friday

Gov. Andy Beshear recommended Thursday that all public and private schools shut down in-person classes for two weeks starting on Monday, March 16 due to ongoing coronavirus concerns.

Following a Whitley County Board of Education meeting Thursday evening where an updated pandemic plan was approved, Superintendent John Siler said that he would announce a decision on Friday about whether the school district will cancel classes starting next week.

The school board voted to apply for 10 emergency non-traditional instructional days Thursday.

Deputy Superintendent Paula Rickett said that instructional packets started being put together Thursday, and would be ready by Friday to send home with students should the need arise.

Students in kindergarten through sixth grade would get paper instructional packets.

Students in grades seven through 12 would have instructional materials downloaded onto their Chromebooks, which would be sent home with the students along with chargers for the devices. None of the Chromebooks would need Internet connectivity for students to complete their assignments for the two-week period.