LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools students went back for the first day of the new school year Wednesday. At the Academy @ Shawnee, that welcome included a walk down the red carpet.

Spectrum News 1 asked student Juantay Watters what he is most looking forward to in the new year. He said he's just looking forward to being back in-person.

Students line up to enter the Academy @ Shawnee for the first day of school. (Spectrum News 1/Amber Smith)

“It’s easier for me to succeed in class instead of online,” Watters said.

When asking that same question to JCPS Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio, the answer was similar.

“To get back to a sense of normalcy for our kids in a school building was really important,” Dr. Pollio said.

This is the first time in over a year JCPS students will be in-person five days per week. Most of the last school year was spent on non-traditional instruction (NTI), with students returning on a hybrid schedule towards the end of that school year.

Pollio said keeping them in class five days per week is a priority, but with rising COVID-19 cases, that will entail safety measures.

When the CDC updated its guidance on masks in schools, JCPS started requiring unvaccinated students and staff to mask up in summer school programming. Then, shortly after, board members voted in favor of universal masking this school year. That decision was made locally, even before Gov. Andy Beshear's recent executive order requiring masks in all K-12 schools, preschools and child care facilities. 

An educator gives a student a pump of hand sanitizer as he enters the building. (Spectrum News 1/Amber Smith)

As students walked up to the Academy @ Shawnee, they were greeted with a pump of hand sanitizer and extra masks for anyone who forgot to bring one. Student Luke Lush said the precautions made him feel safe.

“I’m not very worried because I know from last year in the last six weeks, people were keeping their masks on, people were washing their hands and they were doing everything they can to make sure COVID-19 doesn’t get spread,” Lush said.

For families who still have concerns, there is a virtual option for all grade levels this school year. JCPS said around 3,000 students will be taking part.

“It’ll be more structured in some ways than what they experienced during NTI, but we are working hard to make it an awesome learning experience for them,” Coleman added.

Even for students who are back in-person, there is a chance they will have to quarantine if they come down with COVID-19 or come into contact with someone who has it. The district made a centralized system, so students in quarantine can still receive live instruction through a screen.