GOLDEN, Colo. — The Jeffco Public Schools superintendent is leaving Colorado's second-largest district for a position with the Kentucky State Board of Education.
Jason Glass announced the move Friday morning, after Kentucky officials named him the state's next Commissioner of Education there. Glass grew up in Kentucky and has family there.
"The pull to Kentucky is strong," Glass said in a letter to the district. "While I have lived in Colorado for almost 17 years, Kentucky is the place I grew up and where family is. Our family has loved living in Jeffco and our children have received an exceptional education thanks to Jeffco Public Schools. I have loved working with the incredibly talented people throughout this organization and will miss the powerful commitment to quality and community that I have seen and learned from in Jeffco."
Glass this week announced the district's plans to offer 100% in-person classes starting in August, along with an option for remote learning.
Glass on Friday said he would remain in Jeffco's superintendent role for the next 60 days, until early September, as the district transitions to new leadership.
Glass has been the Jeffco superintendent since 2017. Before that, he was the superintendent of Eagle County Schools and Iowa's Director of Education from 2010-2013.
Jeffco Public Schools includes 155 schools and more than 84,000 students.
Glass will be staying on with the district as classes resume Aug. 24 under an array of health and safety precautions, including:
• Six-foot social distancing "practiced to the fullest level possible"
• Use of common spaces such as cafeterias, gyms and auditoriums will be prohibited for large and mixed-group uses (students will eat lunch in their classrooms through a "grab and go" program)
• Staff and students wearing face coverings when social distancing is not possible
• Symptom screening
• Student grouping limitations wherever possible
• Regular hand washing• Shared items and school materials will be reduced
• Increased building ventilation and "fresh air mixture to the greatest extent possible"