LEXINGTON, Ky. _ The Williamstown Independent School board voted Tuesday night to open school buildings as planned despite Gov. Andy Beshear's recommendation to postpone in-person learning until Sept. 28, officials announced on Twitter.
However, Interim Kentucky Education Commissioner Kevin Brown said Tuesday before the Williamstown vote that any district that made a decision to "defy" the governor's recommendation faced ramifications, including state shutdown.
The Williamstown district's 8:32 p.m. tweet said, "Tonight our board made a courageous vote to stick with our reopening plan."
"With careful consideration of the governor's recommendation and the feedback received from our local community they have chosen to proceed with our "parent choice model" of choosing between in-person instruction and the virtual academy to begin Aug. 26. We appreciate the support of our community, and the safety and well being of our students is always a top priority," the post said.
At a virtual meeting with superintendents earlier Tuesday, Interim Education Commissioner Kevin Brown said that any district who defied Beshear's Monday recommendation faced consequences.
He said he and the incoming education commissioner Jason Glass and Kentucky Board of Education chairwoman Lu Young would meet with the district's school board officials and their attorney in an attempt to reach a "different outcome."
Brown said Beshear could issue an executive order requiring school closure, public health officials could shut down the schools, or the Kentucky Board of Education could pass an emergency order requiring the district to close.
Brown noted that COVID-19 cases were widespread and at a peak, which was why Beshear made the recommendation on Monday.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began in March, all of Kentucky's 171 school districts had followed Beshear's recommendations regarding school closings, Brown said.
At least two Christian schools in Kentucky _ in Somerset and Danville _ decided to open to in-person learning this week, despite Beshear's recommendation.
