Hickman Schools Holding In-Person Classes Aug. 24

The Hickman County School District has announced their first day of school will have kids in classrooms.

On Facebook, Director of Pupil Personnel Perry Collins posted that the board of education chose to keep their most recent plan in place, with in-person classes starting August 24. 

Anyone who feels uncomfortable is welcome to participate in distance learning, Collins said. 

The school board's decision defies a recommendation by Governor Andy Beshear on Monday, when he urged schools to delay in-person classes until September 28. 

The Purchase District Health Department reports that Hickman County has 29 current COVID-19 cases, with a total of 54 cases and no deaths since the pandemic began. There have been almost 37,000 cases of the virus in Kentucky, and 591 in the Purchase District Health Department, which also includes McCracken, Ballard, Carlisle and Fulton Counties. 

The district's original date for the first day of school was Wednesday, but it was moved after a previous recommendation by Governor Beshear last month. 

The school system recently transitioned into use of Google Classroom, which will allow more efficiency for teachers and students who are using distance learning. 

On Tuesday night, Williamstown Independent School District in northern Kentucky voted to begin in-person classes on August 26. They are reportedly the first public school district to defy the recommendation, and it remains to be seen if any further action will be taken by the governor or other state officials. 

In our area, Community Christian Academy and St. Mary Schools, which are private schools, are hosting in-person classes or will when they open.