The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has spread to many countries in the world. The United States is one of the worst hit nations. In response to the virus, Governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear has ordered the closure of all schools, including Catholic schools in the state. His order has also been upheld by the court.
However, Owensboro Catholic Schools in Kentucky has expressed their displeasure concerning this development to close all schools. On November 18, Governor Beshear ordered a halt to in-person classes in the state due to the pandemic. The order was appealed by leaders of religious schools in Kentucky.
Consequently, on November 29, a three-member panel of the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Cincinnati issued a stay of a federal judges order from last week. In respect to this order, Owensboro Catholic Schools (OCS) has stopped their in-person teaching, according to reports.
Although the OCS was not happy with the governor and the courts order, they released a statement admitting to comply with the order.
"We are obviously disappointed because this decision contradicts the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and our own school data. We will be carefully monitoring the legal proceedings and continue our discussions with our legal counsel and the Catholic Conference of KY to determine our future actions," the statement read.
It is pertinent to note that it is not only Owensboro Catholic Schools that were displeased with this order. Heritage Christian Schools also expressed their disappointment. There have been conscious efforts by Owensboro Catholic families to give their children the opportunity to return to in-person schooling. They are eager for physical schooling to resume. For the mean time, students have returned to virtual means of learning as materials are being sent to them through their emails.
Governor Beshear has given restrictions that middle and high schools must continue with remote instruction until January. However, elementary schools may reopen on December 7. That is if that if their location is not among the red zone - the highest category for COVID-19 cases.
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