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LEE COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) – Three beloved employees at the same school in Eastern Kentucky have died from COVID-19.
Heather Antle, Bill Bailey and Rhonda Estes all worked at Lee County Elementary School, and all three have fallen victim to the virus in recent weeks – Estes, Monday alone.
“These are special parts of our family and we will miss them,” said Lee County Superintendent Sarah Wasson. “Our staff are really in pain right now and just trying to figure out how to move forward without these people that we love because we’re a small district, so we’re family.”
Wasson said all three of them had lovable personalities and the students enjoyed being with them.
The district has counselors and religious leaders in each school.
“We’re just trying to help the kids understand, so it’s a very difficult time for us,” Wasson said.
She said the school district has maintained universal masking and that students whose parents have chosen to enroll are tested weekly. Wasson said nearly 200 students were tested last week and only two tested positive.
“So I think we’re going in the right direction, but community spread is affecting schools,” Wasson said.
She said the tight-knit community is good enough to let schools know if anyone has the virus, but she stresses that everyone should take it seriously.
“COVID doesn’t look at borders,” Wasson said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a school or a workplace or if it’s anywhere. COVID exists everywhere. “
Wasson said it was difficult to overcome such heavy and devastating losses, but the district will try to be courageous with each other.
“We need time to heal,” Wasson said. “We need each other and we’re going to be okay with it, but it’s really a tough time right now.”
A group of educators, Kentucky 120, reports Statewide so far, at least 41 school employees have died from COVID-19.
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