Remote access to education will officially be on hold for USD 253 students after classes end Friday.
During KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Friday, Superintendent Allison Anderson-Harder said the district was in a good position to end remote access for the time being.
Last year, lawmakers limited districts’ ability to use remote learning at a building-wide or district-wide level, but it allowed students to apply for remote access. Students have needed to demonstrate “temporary extenuating circumstances” and school boards have needed to meet in executive session before approving those requests on a case-by-case basis.
Interim Executive Director for Teaching and Learning Judy Stanley says about a third of eligible families have reached out to start the remote access process, with the others relying on homework packets. The recent change in isolation and quarantine times down to five days have made it tough for parents to adjust, and the numbers of staff out this week have also made classroom management difficult.
Board President Art Gutierrez says the district’s hands are tied now for what it can do, but he’d rather see remote access stay available until the pandemic surge ends.
The decision will be re-evaluated late next month after updates from the state.
6:50 am Friday: USD 253 Emporia halts remote access option effective Monday
For now, Friday signals the end of the COVID-19 remote acces option for USD 253 Emporia.
The district says its decision came after recent guidance from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Kansas State Department of Education concerning the five-day quarantine and isolation periods.
Last year, lawmakers limited districts’ blanket ability to use remote access, meaning students have needed to demonstrate “temporary extenuating circumstances” and school boards have had to meet in executive session before approving those requests on a case-by-case basis.
With the decision to end remote access for at least the next 30 days, quarantines and isolations will be treated as excused absences, which means the students can make up any work they missed — but they have one day per excused absence day to do so. Students are encouraged to use Google Classroom for these assignments as much as they can. Temporary IEP, or Individual Education Plan, amendments in place so far are no longer required.
The decision will be re-evaluated late next month after updates from the state.
Superintendent Allison Anderson-Harder, Interim Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Brad Kempf and USD 253 Board President Art Gutierrez will have an update on Friday’s Newsmaker segment.
