We all agree that in-person learning is the most effective way for our students to learn and it is also the best way to meet the social, emotional, and mental needs of our students.  Therefore, we are working to safely ramp up in-person instruction activities with our students.  Our administrators and teachers are now actively planning and working on the processes and activities for small groups of students and the A/B hybrid model.

This week and next we will continue to move forward by bringing in small groups of students in the transition grades so that these students, many of whom have never entered their new school, can meet their teachers and administrators in person and become familiar with the building and the safety protocols that must be followed.  During these two weeks, we will also utilize our buses to transport students and our school kitchens to provide food to take home.

Moving forward, we will use the following data to make decisions on the status of our schools or the district:

• County and region COVID-19 data
• Quarantine data and its impact on our schools
• Successful implementation of school health and safety protocols

A safe return to in-person instruction will require a commitment to health and safety each and every day at school and at home.  Student, teachers, and employees must monitor their own health, stay physically distant from others, wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose, and wash their hands regularly.  Each of these strategies will limit the spread of COVID-19, however, the risks of exposure in school will never be zero.

Boone County Nutrition On The Go Order Form!
No Cost for meals for ALL Students from September 9, 2020 thru December 31, 2020.

As we prepare for September 23, 2020 (Week 5) of Online Meal Package Ordering, we want to thank you for participating and we look forward to providing this service AT NO COST through December 31, 2020.

The food service department for Boone County Schools is happy to provide weekly meal packages which are now available for all children 2 years thru 18 years of age. The weekly meal package provides 5 days worth of breakfast meals and 5 days worth of lunch meals for each child. (If there is a holiday or in-service day during the week, we will provide meals for instructional days only for that week.)

You may view the planned menus on the food service website or by clicking https://boone.nutrislice.com/. Menus are subject to change due to availability of food products. If you have any questions about allergies or special dietary needs, please contact the cafeteria manager of your student’s school and we will gladly provide meal accommodations once a special dietary needs form is completed and on file for your student.

I am writing to provide a weekly update on the status of our schools as we plan for small groups of students in transition grades to attend over the next two weeks. Thank you for your support and patience as our administrators and teachers work hard to continue to provide remote learning for students, while also planning for students in small groups and our A/B hybrid model.

We have posted a COVID-19 dashboard on our website in order to be transparent regarding the number of positive cases of students and staff in our schools. This data is provided by the NKY Health Department and by our employees and parents.

As we move forward to safely provide in-person instruction, we will closely monitor COVID-19 data in both Boone County and our region as we have many student family members and employees that cross county and state lines to work. When making decisions about the status of our district and schools we will consider the following information:

- Daily new cases per 100K population (7-day rolling average)

- Trend line of daily new cases per 100K population

- Infection rate

- Positive test rate

- Quarantine data and its impact on schools

- Successful implementation of school health & safety protocols

- Directives from the NKY Health Department*

I am writing to provide another update of the status of our schools as we navigate through the challenges of the pandemic and safely educate our students.

As I mentioned in my previous letter, our goal is to safely transition to in-person activities with our students and staff. We are actively working to bring students into the building for in-person activity starting Monday, September 14th. The first step of our approach is to bring in small groups of students (10 or less) in the transition grades with the goal of acclimating them to the building, the safety procedures everyone will follow, and their new teachers and administrators. Your student’s school will be communicating directly with parents on this process.

Upon safely completing these two weeks of in-person activity, we will determine our next steps of in-person activity. Everyone’s hope and expectation is that we will be able to transition to the A/B hybrid model on which we expected to begin the year.

Thank you for your patience and support as we have started the 2020-2021 school year using remote learning. Our schools are currently working to connect with each family to help navigate through some beginning-of-the-year issues such as attendance, expectations, and online connections. Please contact your child's teachers or the school office if you have specific questions about class activities or your child's progress.

We know that many of you have questions and concerns about returning to in-person instruction and our district's decision-making process moving forward. Boone County Schools have met with state leadership to express our concern over their decision-making process in early August and to learn more about using local and regional data for eventually resuming in-person instruction. We will continue to monitor local and regional COVID-19 data and the progress of schools and districts in our region and across the state. Our school district may need to make adjustments to in-person attendance and activities based on local and regional COVID-19 data.

Coverings for Kids seeks to collect mask donations to provide to Kentucky schools at no cost. Donations of child and adult size masks will be accepted. These donations will help our students, faculty and staff remain healthy at school at the time of their return.

We are reaching out to encourage you to donate or spread the word of Coverings for Kids to those in your community who may wish to be involved. This is an amazing opportunity for Kentuckians to come together and support our schools during these unprecedented times.  All donations can be dropped off at the Boone County Schools District Office at 8330 US 42 in Florence, KY.

For more information, please visit Coverings For Kids. You will find donation details, mask requirements, resources and tutorials on mask making.

On Monday, Governor Beshear issued a recommendation that schools in Kentucky open the school year utilizing virtual instruction until Monday, September 28, 2020.  The Governor’s decision is supported by the Kentucky Department for Public Health and the Kentucky Department of Education, and as a result, the Boone County Schools will move to the RED status listed on our district reopening plan.  Therefore, school will begin on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 with instruction being provided virtually.  We will prepare to return to a YELLOW status and in-person instruction on Monday, September 28, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented our community with many complex challenges, including how we will safely educate our 21,000 students. The priority of safely and effectively educating our students must be balanced with the safety of our 3,600 employees and also the financial impact of the pandemic on jobs and our families.

While we cannot eliminate risks altogether, we believe that by following the state and federal guidance listed above we can together significantly reduce the risk of potentially spreading COVID-19 on our campuses. Doing so, however, will require a shared commitment by each of us to take care of ourselves, our families, and everyone in our schools.

Click Here for the Returning To School Options
For Boone County Schools

I am very excited and honored to serve as your next superintendent.  Please click on the image below for my introductory message to you.

Obviously, the re-opening of our schools in August has been the focus of almost all our work this summer.  Our district team and our principals are working hard and meeting regularly to plan and prepare for our re-opening.  Very soon I will send you more information and also ask your thoughts and views on how we can best serve the needs of our students in a way that is safe for both students and staff.  The best conduits of information will be your principals or supervisors and the SBDM councils at your schools – be sure to stay in touch with them and also keep them informed of your ideas, thoughts, and concerns.

Sincerely,

Matt Turner

 Public Notice Boone County Board of Education

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION

Students, their families and employees/ potential employees of the Boone County School District are hereby notified that the Boone County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sex, disability or genetic information in employment programs, vocational programs, or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups, set forth in compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations. The lack of English language skills is not a barrier to admission and participation in programs and activities including career and technical education programs.

Any person having inquires concerning Boone County Schools’ nondiscrimination policies may contact:

Kathleen G. Reutman, Executive Director

Boone County Schools Student Services Division

8330 US 42, Florence, Ky 41042

859-334-4466

kathy.reutman@boone.kyschools.us

Ryle High School Principal Matt Turner has been appointed to serve as the next Superintendent of the Boone County School District.

Mr. Turner has served in education for 29 years.  The last 14 as Principal at Ryle High, Northern Kentucky’s largest high school with a student population of 2000. Before that he served as Assistant Principal at Ryle, assistant principal at Lloyd Memorial High in Erlanger, KY, and assistant principal at Williamstown High School.  He has held multiple other positions in education throughout his career that include teaching and coaching.  “Matt is known as a gifted leader and administrator throughout Kentucky, says school board president Matt McIntire. We are excited to announce Mr. Turner as our next Superintendent of Boone County Schools and to partner with him on behalf of our students. Matt’s ability to lead teams centered on a shared vision will be vital as we build on the foundation of Achieving Excellence Together in our schools." 

Mr. Turner’s background in education leadership includes Harvard’s Executive Leadership Program for Educators and the National Institute of School Leadership. Having worked in rural, urban and suburban settings to include small towns and larger metropolitan areas perfectly suits him to lead Kentucky’s third largest district of 21,000 students.

The search for a new Superintendent began 4 months ago with a Superintendent Search Screening Committee which included elected teachers, administrators and community members working alongside the Boone County School Board.