School will start after Labor Day in the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, but with remote online learning only for the first nine weeks.
The Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Education tonight unanimously decided to go along with Gov. Laura Kelly’s order to start school after the Labor Day holiday, according to a district spokesman.
The first nine weeks of the 2020-2021 school year, starting in September, will be in a distance learning format, with all learning taking place remotely, according to the spokesman. All students will have distance learning only during those nine weeks.
At this time, there was no exact date announced about the first day of school, with that information to be released later, the spokesman stated. Also, details are being worked out on sports and activities, with updates to be announced later.
Just a week ago, the state Board of Education released guidance for reopening schools across the state.
The district has been working closely with the Unified Government Health Department constantly, according to the spokesman.
“We understand and appreciate our parents’ urgency to know what returning to school will be like for this upcoming academic year. Our staff has been working diligently on a Reopening of Schools plan, and we are ahead of schedule with professional development workshops for our teachers and administration,” said Dr. Charles Foust, superintendent of schools. “Our preparations were designed to keep our staff and students safe regardless of whatever option the board chose for the upcoming school year, and to ensure that our staff is well-prepared to meet the unique situation they will face.”
The district will continue to work closely with the UG Health Department to review safety protocols during COVID-19, the spokesman stated. The best practices will be carefully considered before making any decisions to return to in-person instruction after the nine-week period.
The administration presented several instructional options for the board to consider with a focus on the health and safety of students, parents, and staff. Those options included:
Option A –
All students return to campus with mitigation practices for student and staff safety
Option B –
An A/B schedule where approximately 50 percent of the students will be on-site and 50 percent online daily
Option C –
Distance learning for all students
Option D –
Traditional return to campus with an online option
The board chose Option C.
A district spokesman stated they understood there will be questions about online learning activities, sporting events and staff expectations when school begins in September. The district is currently producing a frequently asked questions page to address as many of those questions as possible, according to the spokesman.
The district will offer updates on the plans through its website and other communication platforms.