Here's what back-to-school will look like in Boone County's public schools

All information is current as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18

Here's what we know about what parents and students can expect.

BOONE COUNTY SCHOOLS
Online learning (for now)

Boone County Schools had initially planned on a parents'-choice model that would allow each family to select blended or online learning for their children. However, the district pivoted in mid-August, following Gov. Andy Beshear's recommendation that all Kentucky schools delay in-person learning until late September.

As of Aug. 18, when superintendent Matthew Turner sent a new letter to Boone County parents, all classes will be held online beginning Aug. 25 — the first day of school — and ending on either Sept. 28 or when county health officials announce the area has transitioned out of "red" (high-risk) status for COVID-19 spread.

Here's the plan.

WALTON-VERONA INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
Parents’ choice (Blended learning or online)

Like Boone County Schools, Walton-Verona will begin school remotely on Aug. 24 and will not ask any students to return to in-person instruction until at least Sept. 28.

What will classes look like?

No students in the district will have a full week of face-to-face classes, even after Sept. 28 — all will learn online for at least part of the week.

However, parents can choose to make their child’s school year fully digital or enroll them in a blended learning program that includes some days of in-person instruction.

The blended program will be slightly different for different grade levels. Elementary schoolers will spend four days of the week learning at school, with Friday reserved for online classes.

Middle and high schoolers will be divided into two groups, each of which has two designated days of in-person classes — Monday-Tuesday or Wednesday-Thursday. Like their elementary counterparts, they will all spend Friday learning online.

“Every effort will be made under this option to keep students who live in the same home on the same schedule,” according to the plan.

What safety measures can I expect?

Elementary school students will meet in unusual classroom spaces that allow greater social distancing, including the cafeteria, mobile classrooms and the gymnasium.

The two-group approach to older students will create more space within their schools, which will only be at 50% capacity on any given day.

Students will be required to wear masks at all times during the school day, except when they are seated at their desks inside their classrooms.