Bledsoe County Schools closed remainder of 2019-2020 academic year

Governor Bill Lee recommended on Wednesday all Tennessee schools close through the rest of the 2019-2020 school year to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Bledsoe County Director of Schools Jennifer Terry said the local school system will follow the recommendation and close throughout the remainder of the year. 

Terry added while students will not return to the classroom this year, the schools will still play a role in student’s lives. Academic plans, including plans for graduation, will be announced at a later date.

“Be assured there will be some form of graduation,” Director Terry said. “We are going to celebrate our seniors and their accomplishments.”

Tennessee Education Commissioner Dr. Penny Schwinn agreed with the Governor’s recommendation.

“I appreciate the governor’s recommendation schools remain closed through the end of the school year to protect the health and safety of all Tennesseans,” said Dr. Schwinn. “The coronavirus pandemic is constantly evolving, and we are only starting to see how this pandemic is affecting our children.”

Dr. Schwinn added the department will create a child well-being task force to check on students in the coming weeks and during the summer. Those plans will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more, see thebledsonian-banner.com and the April 23 issue of The Bledsonian-Banner.