Lee Says Decision On School Still Few Weeks Away

Governor Bill Lee said a final decision on schools’ spring semester will depend on the next several weeks.

“It’s hard to say but I think within a couple of weeks, we will have a much clearer view of what’s coming,” Lee said. “Really to hard make decisions without information. And I don’t like to do that.”

Many experts believe the next two weeks will be critical across Tennessee and the nation as a whole. Lee said the intensity of the surge over the next few days will be informative to experts. Currently, schools across the state are closed through April 24.

Lee said he understood the difficult decisions faced by school leaders in trying to decide how best to handle the month of April.

“We have teachers and great educators across this state and they are doing a great job,” Lee said.

Lee said as soon as the decision was made to keep kids safe by keeping them out of school, the work began to keep students busy learning. Lee pointed to programs such as the PBS-TV midday sessions taught by Tennessee teachers, as a way to reach students who may not have internet access.

But many students do not have internet access or digital devices. Lee said going forward long-term, the state must continue to trim that number to ensure learning in any situation.