Just two weeks ago, the USD 253 Emporia Board of Education voted to allow more students to go to Emporia High and Emporia Middle School on a more frequent basis. Now it has decided to keep more students home until mid-January.
The Emporia Board of Education voted in favor 5-2 during its regular meeting Wednesday evening. Remote learning will begin on Nov. 23 and will continue until Jan. 19.
This transition will not affect pre-K-2nd grade education or the district’s consistent onsite cohort of students with specialized learning needs.
The decision followed roughly two hours of presentations on data regarding student and staff absences, COVID-19 case numbers and updates from local principals. This is the first time this academic year students have gone remote as directed by the district instead of through parent choice. Students from pre-K through 5th grade have been face-to-face since the school year started in mid-August, while students at Emporia Middle School and Emporia High have been using a hybrid model with a constant cohort of students with specialized learning needs onsite, with a percentage of remaining students onsite for part of the school week.
The decision also followed extensive conversations regarding the date of when the remote learning should start. Some, including Board President Mike Crouch, felt the district should make the best effort to make it to Thanksgiving before transitioning.
During discussions on the potential transition, board member Leslie Seeley expressed concern regarding whether or not the change to remote learning would lead to any district staff essentially being out of work.
District Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Kelly Bolin says at this time, she cannot think of anyone who would be out of work due to the transition.
Following this action, the board also voted to allow extracurricular activities and athletics to continue. Board member Art Gutierrez stated he was in favor of this course, however, he says there would need to be restrictions in place.
As part of the continuation of athletics and extracurricular activities, teachers and administrative staff will need to conduct a thorough review of mitigation strategies to assist in reducing any potential of COVID-19 exposure and will implement restrictions as necessary.
The board’s decision followed roughly two hours of updates on district data including student and staff absences, COVID-19 case numbers and updates from local principals. The decision to move into remote education comes nearly a week after the board voted to postpone moving into phase three of the district’s COVID-19 learning model which would have seen 50 percent of the student population attending in-person classes twice a week. It also comes two weeks after the board agreed on a 4-3 vote to bring more students to Emporia High and Emporia Middle School on a more regular basis.
Shortly before the meeting, Superintendent Kevin Case emailed a letter to parents urging parents to have a plan in place in case the district moved to remote learning. He also asked families, despite “COVID fatigue,” to use the same mitigation strategies — mask use in public, social distancing, avoiding gatherings, frequent handwashing and staying home if feeling sick — that are being used in the district.
The USD 253 Board of Education is next scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7 pm inside the Mary Herbert Education Center.
Text of USD 253 Emporia Superintendent Kevin Case’s letter to district parents
Dear Emporia Public School Families,
As a community, we are experiencing an alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. This is greatly affecting our district in the number of students and staff who are ill or who are required to quarantine. As much as we want to be able to increase the number of students on-site and continue with our school programs, our current community and school metrics present many challenges. In an effort to keep our schools open, we need your help. I ask that you please follow the same mitigation strategies in the community as we are in our schools. That includes wearing a mask in public, social distancing, avoiding large and small gatherings, washing your hands frequently, and staying home when you don’t feel well. I know we are all experiencing “COVID Fatigue”, and want to return back to normal. Unfortunately, that is not our current reality. Please persevere through these challenging times!
Additionally, families need to be prepared with a plan in case we would need to step back if all or part of our school population would need to pivot and transition to remote learning. As a district, we are making every effort to keep our students and staff safe, please help by supporting us in practicing disease prevention techniques. If everyone will participate we will be able to eventually move forward with our secondary learning step plans and keep our students engaged in all school activities. It is essential that we all work together to help slow the spread. Thank you and stay safe!
Kevin Case, Superintendent
Emporia Public Schools
