PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Palm Beach County Superintendent Dr. Donald Fennoy said both of his wife's parents died of COVID-19 within a span of a few weeks.
Fennoy made the revelation Wednesday morning during a back-to-school discussion hosted by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce.
"None of us are exempt from this COVID thing, you know," Fennoy said during the public forum at Palm Beach State College. "My wife lost both of her parents in a matter of four weeks to COVID, and because I'm the superintendent of schools, I could not go to the funeral. I could not take the kids. My wife had to deal with that by herself in another state in Birmingham, Alabama, so when you lose both of your parents in short order, this becomes very real and personal to you."
The School District of Palm Beach County is beginning the 2020-21 academic year Monday with all students learning remotely.
Fennoy spoke about the safe return of students to brick-and-mortar classrooms amid the coronavirus and the delicate balance between the need for in-person instruction and following the recommendation of county health officials.
"So, I just want all of us to put that into perspective," Fennoy said. "Everyone has a story, but every kid has a story, too."