LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools' current COVID-19 guidance will remain the same.
Board members held a special meeting Tuesday night, rejecting the relaxed proposal that would reduce quarantine times.
The state’s updated guidance does not require contact tracing or quarantines for schools with universal masking.
While questioning the superintendent, District two board member Dr. Chris Kolb said, "All we're doing here is lowering the bar."
District 4 board member Joe Marshall elaborated, "When we made these other decisions, it seemed that the decisions being made were in line with what the scientific community was saying about the virus. I just don't feel that's the case this time."
While making the final vote, District 1 board chair Dianne Porter said, "No, because It's dangerous, I think, for the district I represent."
After the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio told WHAS11 he was also caught off guard by the new CDC and state guidance. "When we first got them a week ago, I was surprised as well," he said. "I mean that was 8 days ago, most school districts implemented them right away. But we wanted to take the time and make sure that we made a wise decision or recommendation to our board."
Currently, JCPS said students who test positive for the virus or are considered close contacts will have to quarantine and must stay home from school unless fully vaccinated or take part in their “Test to Stay” program.
The Jefferson County Board of Education also granted Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio the power to use remote instruction days approved by state lawmakers.
Those ten remote days aren’t like the approved Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) days. They are targeted days that can be used for individual schools, grades or classrooms.
JCPS is on another week of NTI because of COVID-related staffing shortages.
A decision regarding next week's classes has not been determined yet.
►Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.