The Archdiocese of Louisville announced April 20 that Catholic school students will not return to the classroom for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
The archdiocese is responding to Governor Andy Beshear’s recommendation that all Kentucky schools cease in-person instruction for the remainder of the current school year.
Leisa Schulz, superintendent of schools for the archdiocese, said though she understands the reason for the governor’s decision, it’s still sad that educators will not get the chance to celebrate the “end-of-the-year milestones and transitions” in person with their students and families.
“Our schools are working to provide creative ways to mark the ending of the school year and acknowledge everyone’s accomplishments and perseverance in moving forward this year,” said Schulz. “We are so proud of our Catholic school leaders, teachers, students and parents for their commitment, flexibility, and resiliency. We also eagerly await the opportunity to be together again.”
Kathy DeLozier, principal of St. Nicholas Academy, said she was sad after hearing the announcement. DeLozier is retiring at the end of the current school year.
“I felt sadness, because of all the things I will miss. Not being able to say goodbye to the kids is sad,” said DeLozier. “But it is the right thing to do. I support the decision completely.”
She said that St. Nicholas’ teachers and students have responded well to distance learning, which went into effect the week of March 16.
“I am incredibly proud of my teachers and how they’ve juggled it all and their families, though it’s not what anybody wanted,” she said. “The kids have done incredibly well in terms of their responsibility turning work in. They’re doing the work and it seems to be progressing.”
DeLozier said her teachers have been concentrating on maintaining the skills the students already have instead of teaching new ones.
She laments the fact that there’s so much uncertainty. “We don’t know what August will look like and where we will start. It’ll be challenging to start out at grade level,” she said.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic has upended life, DeLozier said she finds it “strangely comforting that we’re all figuring this out at the same time and doing the very best we can do.”
The archdiocese said in a statement that it “will continue to resource and support Catholic school leaders and teachers as they serve students in the coming weeks.”
