Superintendent Says Edmonson County Schools Will Remain Open For In-Person Classes At This Time

School Says Only 5 Cases In Entire System, Not Spread At School

Darren Doyle, story:
Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools Brian Alexander has announced that local schools will continue holding in-person classes, despite a grim report from Governor Andy Beshear on KY's coronavirus numbers in his daily press conference today.

According to the state's coronavirus website, kycovid19.ky.gov, Edmonson County is listed in what is considered the "red zone," or the "critical" current 7-day incident rate, which is listed at 27. The sometimes confusing number is calculated by taking the total number of unique cases in each county over the past 7 days, divided by 7 to get a daily average, divided by the U.S. census bureau county population, and multiplied by 100,000 to get the incidence per 100,000 people. According to state guidelines, the "green" zone, which is less than one case per 100,000, is considered "on track." None of the 120 counties in KY are green.

According to Friday's numbers for Edmonson County provided by the Barren River District Health Department, there were 31 known active COVID-19 cases in Edmonson County, or two-tenths of one percent, (.02%) of the county's total population.

We received a statement from Superintendent Alexander shortly after Governor Beshear's press conference today. The entire statement is published below: 

In response to Governor Beshear’s press conference today, Edmonson County schools would like to announce that, at this time, we will continue with in-person classes.  We understand that while the Incidence Rate for Edmonson County is 25.9, the Incidence Rate for students attending in-person classes at this time is 0.4% (5 positive cases out of 1,159 students attending in-person classes for Edmonson County Schools).  Also, the percentage of total students affected by COVID-19 is 5.7% (67 total students tested positive or quarantined out of 1,159 students attending in-person classes for Edmonson County Schools).  Data as of today is listed below:

​According to the governor’s press conference today, the state of Kentucky is under 6% in terms of statewide Incidence Rate, and is currently at 5.84%.  If the state goes above 6%, Governor Beshear indicated our state government will look into mandates.  We certainly hope this does not become necessary.  However, until such time, Edmonson County Schools will continually monitor our number of positive cases for students, and the total number of students affected by COVID-19 on the staggered schedule on a daily basis, and will respond appropriately if there is a spike in the number of students that are positive cases, as well as the total number of student quarantined.

What we are doing in protecting our students and staff at Edmonson County Schools is working.  We have only 5 cases currently in Edmonson County Schools.  The problems and the spread is not coming from Edmonson County Schools.  We are cooperating with Barren River Health Department in quarantining students that are exposed to positive cases in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our schools.  Virtually all the students that we quarantine fail to contract the virus, yet we are doing everything we are asked to do because we want to be a positive part of our community when it comes to helping in the prevent of the spread of COVID-19 in Edmonson County.  The students and parents involved in quarantine situations have been cooperative and we thank them for doing so.  

The Governor stated repeatedly in his press conference today that he has faith in Kentucky’s public schools that are doing thing right.  We work hard to do things the right way in Edmonson County.  The data shows this.  We ask that you continue to work with us and have faith in Edmonson County Schools. 
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Thank you for your time and attention,
​
Brian Alexander, 
​Superintendent of Edmonson County Schools