Fayette County puts middle schools on hybrid schedule

Fayette County’s middle schools will be on a synchronous hybrid learning schedule through Jan. 14, the system announced this week as classes were set to resume. The county’s high schools were already on that schedule to start the new semester due to recent increases in coronavirus cases. Spokesperson Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said that if conditions allow, all students currently enrolled for in-person classes will return to school on Jan. 15. In the meantime, students will be divided into two groups that will attend on alternate days, with classes streamed live for those viewing from home.

The most recent coronavirus report issued by the school system on Dec. 18 before the holiday break showed that during the last week of the first semester, there were 35 new student cases of COVID-19 and 25 new cases among staff members. That week, 256 students were in isolation or quarantine due to school-related exposure, as were 40 staff members. Concern over further increases in cases after the break prompted the administration to delay the simultaneous return of older students to class.