Public schools in all 120 Kentucky counties are closed Monday

All of Kentucky's public schools are out of session Monday, as thousands of teachers are expected to protest a surprise pension reform bill at the state Capitol.

All 120 of the state's county public schools will be closed either due to spring break, a majority of teachers calling in sick, or the district deciding to allow a day for employees to rally, a Courier Journal analysis shows.

While the majority are off for spring break, including Jefferson County, 21 school districts canceled in connection to Monday's anticipated rally.

"The Lee County School District will close schools on Monday, April 2, 2018," one announcement said. "This will allow our public school employees time to travel to Frankfort to advocate for Public Education and school funding at the KEA (Kentucky Education Association) rally. We need to continue to make sure the Legislature puts our students and families first and to search for new sources of revenue to fully fund Public Education."

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Counties closed specifically for the rally include McCreary, Whitley, Rockcastle, Letcher, Floyd, Meniffee, Estill, Powell, Wolfe, Lee, Breathitt, Perry, Magoffin, Knott, Floyd, Pike, Boone, Kenton, Pendleton, Lewis, and Morgan. Martin County schools are also reportedly closed.

Here's a map:

The Jefferson County Teachers Association is providing two school buses to transport teachers and encouraging others to wear red and carpool to Frankfort. Many already left Sunday evening to head to the Capitol.

On Thursday, the Kentucky legislature surprisingly passed Senate Bill 151 to overhaul the state's pension system. As a result, more than 500 teachers flooded the Capitol on Friday to protest.

That number is expected to be much higher at Monday's rally, as more than 5,000 are expected to attend, according to the State Journal in Frankfort. Teachers plan to meet at the union's headquarters on Capital Avenue at 9 a.m. and march to the statehouse.

KEA president Stephanie Winkler said educators "will be watching" Monday's budget process.

"We will be here watching every move legislators make," Winkler said. "If this budget is not in the best interest of public education students and public service, then we will react.

"We will not be silent," she said.

Reporters Darcy Costello and Mandy McLaren contributed to this report. Thomas Novelly can be reached at 502-582-4465 or by email at tnovelly@courier-journal.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/tomn