Students may return to Kentucky School for the Blind on March 1 - ABC 36 News

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Frankfurt, Kentucky (WTVQ) – The Kentucky School for the Blind plans to allow students to return to class in person starting March 1, said principal Peggy Sinclair-Morris.

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She said the plan calls for the reopening of courses for full-time students and the reopening of dormitories for resident students.

Carol Ann Morrison, Director of State Schools at the Kentucky Department of Education, said the school will continue to provide virtual courses for students who choose not to return to teach in person.

Sinclair-Morris said school officials will send a survey to the parents or guardians of KSB students this week, asking them whether they want to continue the virtual course or return to study in person.

She said that there are a lot of personal protective equipment on campus, and plastic protective covers are also installed in classrooms to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sinclair-Morris said: "We have masks, we have dresses, we have less stolen goods and less hats."

Morrison said that detailed plans for the reopening should be sent to parents and staff in mid-February.

She said that the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) provided multiple guidance documents that included details of the reopening. The KSB program is based on the state’s 

 Guidance and advice from Morrison of the Kentucky Department of Public Health (DPH).

Sinclair-Morris said that approximately 70% of KSB staff signed up for vaccination against COVID-19, and the first dose of vaccine was administered last week. She said the staff should expect to receive an email to arrange a second medication.

Morrison said that the pandemic has increased support for student families, and the KDE Office of Special Education and Early Learning has added links to many resources 

 On the KDE website.

Board members discussed some ideas to better prepare KSB students for personal independence and work environment.

Janetll Turner, chairman of the board of directors, said: “I think one of the biggest things parents talk about is how we expand the types of jobs available to students.” She said that there are many entry-level jobs available to KSB students. They are all in the food service industry-a good starting point, but the future job should be in line with the students' personal interests.

Board member Brandi Hitzelberger said that improving the career opportunities of KSB students is a goal and it will take time to achieve this goal. She said the school needs to reform the way it prepares students for job interviews and resume writing, and recruit more tutors to talk about their work with previous students.

Hitzberg said that the school has gotten rid of the trouble of teaching basic life skills, but now, more than half of KSB students have disabilities in addition to visual impairment, which makes this education even more important.

Turner said that students usually have little contact with work, so they know little about their work. She said that maybe KSB can emulate the cooperation plan in other schools, or find community partners so that KSB students can cast a shadow on the workers in the available jobs.

Morrison said that improving transition services for KSB students is the current focus.

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