(FRANKFORT, KY) – The Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) approved several emergency regulations during its Aug. 5 regular meeting to help districts prepare for the ongoing effects the COVID-19 pandemic may have on the 2021-2022 school year.
The KBE heard from Robin Kinney, associate commissioner in the Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) Office of Finance and Operations, about an emergency regulation related to paid leave for district employees who are quarantined due to COVID-19.
The regulation provides for paid leave for full- and part-time school district staff who are ordered to quarantine by a treating medical professional, a local health department, the Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) or the employing school district. Employees must have taken the COVID-19 vaccine or be exempt due to disability or sincerely held religious belief to be eligible for this paid leave. The additional leave prevents employees from having to use their limited personal or sick leave days during quarantine. In order to be effective for the 2021-2022 school year, the current regulation was filed on an emergency basis.
The KBE also approved a non-emergency regulation that will take effect in 7 to 9 months allowing paid leave for similar quarantining circumstances.
