In accordance with the Executive Order from the governor, Henry County Public Schools will transition to at-home virtual learning for all students beginning Monday, Nov. 23, 2020.  The order contains the following stipulations regarding the return to in-person instruction:

• Middle and High School ONLY:  The first date that Henry County can resume in-person learning will be January 5, 2021.  Prior to this return, I will continually and consistently be studying the state and local data as well as the status of our students and staff when finalizing a return date.
• Preschool and Elementary ONLY:  The first date that Henry County can resume in-person learning will be December 7, 2020.  I, along with district leadership, will be studying the data and status of the state and Henry County.  This date should be considered a tentative return date.  More information will follow closer to this date for preschool and elementary-aged students and their families.

The board of directors of the Kentucky School Boards Association annually funds two $2,500 scholarships for eligible Kentucky high school seniors to attend any two- or four-year accredited college or university. Eligible students are those who would be the first members of their immediate families (parents, guardians, siblings) to receive a degree from an institution of higher education.

The nominees from Henry County Public Schools, who have already won a local scholarship from the Henry County Board of Education, were recognized at the November Board of Education meeting. The nominees, pictured with Assistant Superintendent Chelsey Tingle, are Emma Morgan and Joshua “Trevor” Hardin.

As of the writing of this message I can say that our district and internal health numbers are looking great. Again, understand that I am continually checking on our county's percentage as well as those of surrounding districts. Given all the data, which includes the county map incidence rate, information from our local health department and data from our District Health Report and HCPS Health Services Department, Henry County Public Schools will continue in-person instruction until the collective data indicates otherwise or unless directed by public health and/or state government.

The health precautions, PPE, planning, and organization in place at HCPS is paying off for the district. We are seeing that most reports of positive cases of COVID and ensuing exposures and quarantines are coming from outside of the school district in the form of community spread. I urge families, please monitor what is occurring on time spent outside of the school day.

Thank you again for your cooperation, collaboration and support.

District and individual school report cards for the 2019-2020 school year are now available for your review on our website, www.henry.kyschools.us, or by clicking this link: https://www.kyschoolreportcard.com/organization/5584?year=2020

During the 2020-21 school year as Henry and other counties continue to deal with COVID, we have been granted unlimited Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) days. NTI days allow students to learn from home if necessary, and those at-home learning days will count toward our required minimum of 170 instruction days per school year.

This helps us if we are forced to temporarily close our buildings due to an outbreak, and in turn prevents us from having to make up school days into the summer. We have also used these days this year on Fridays across the district. On these Fridays, students learn from home and that allows for additional cleaning precautions to take place, and provides additional time for planning and communication for teachers who are working with both in-person and online learners.

This winter we will use NTI days when school is cancelled for weather. On any day that in-person school is canceled for weather, all students (in-person students and Online Academy learners) will continue their classwork at home. As teachers foresee issues of severe winter weather, they will prepare their students for the possibility of working from home. If the district experiences a surprise weather event, all students will function much as they currently do on Fridays.  

Henry County Public Schools and New Castle Elementary School recently celebrated the retirement of Glenna Barnett. Glenna began her career with HCPS as a substitute instructional assistant, then was hired to a full-time position in 1994 at New Castle Elementary, where she finished her career earlier this school year. Glenna teared up when she said she missed her "home," but is grateful to dedicate more time to her artwork. She misses her coworkers and students very much and wishes them all the best! On hand to thank Glenna for her dedication and loyalty were NCES Principal Phillip Guthrie and HCPS Superintendent Terry Price.

In order to help us continue to improve our overall education technology efforts, Henry County Public Schools has partnered with BrightBytes to assess our use of technology for learning. Our aim is to have 3rd through 12th grade students, parents and teachers/administrators take the survey.  

Click HERE to begin.

This communication is to let our students, staff, parents, guardians and community know that Henry County Public Schools monitors COVID-19 information on a daily basis.  Please find information below regarding how decision-making occurs regarding in-person and at-home instruction (Online Learning Academy and/or Non-Traditional Instruction) during COVID-19. 

1. WHO will work collaboratively to make decisions regarding Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI)?

• Superintendent Terry Price and the administrative team
• Mr. Price will consult with all HCPS Board of Education members regarding decisions and their rationale.
• District Health Coordinator Melissa Jeffries, as well as the North Central District Health Department (as needed)