(WKYT) – An ongoing water shortage emergency in Casey County has prompted the local school board to delay the start of the new school year by one week, with students now set to return Aug. 24.
The Casey County School Board voted to extend summer break after the county and the city of Liberty entered a water shortage emergency that has lasted most of the summer. Officials say the shortage could stretch into the fall.
Schools shift to conservation measures
Superintendent Barry Lee said the board acted out of caution given the severity of the situation at the time of the vote.
“At that time we felt it was best not knowing what could happen, because we were in 100% conservation mode at that point,” Lee said.
The delay also moves the district to a variable calendar, allowing missed time to be made up in hours rather than days. Lee noted the flexibility could be important if conditions worsen.
“The water shortage, if it were to get worse, winter months, if we have a bad winter, then also we flood, have to be out of school, so the complete opposite,” Lee said.
Water levels rise slightly; conservation still required
Access to the lake has been restricted, though officials say levels have risen slightly over the summer. Some 800,000 gallons of water per day are being pumped into the lake from the Green River, but residents are still being asked to conserve.
That directive extends to all six schools in the county.
“Whether that be washing of hands, giving them bottles of water when we’re not running water fountains — it’s more of a conservation method,” Lee said. “Hopefully we will continue to get rain. This will not be an issue going forward.”
Liberty’s mayor said the combination of the Green River pipeline and conservation efforts is helping, but the situation is not resolved. The mayor said the city remains in constant communication with the Division of Water over the shortage.
Lee said he hopes improving conditions will prevent further school disruptions.
“Hopefully the rain comes and we have an ok winter, to where we are not out of school, but we do have some snow, it melts and fills the lake up,” Lee said.