While Kansas is working hard to reopen its schools for the 2020-21 academic year, Governor Laura Kelly announced all openings will be delayed as of Monday pending action by the Kansas State Board of Education.
During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Governor Kelly stated she will be issuing a new executive order Monday which will see school openings delayed until after Labor Day. Kelly stated she will also be issuing a second order making “common sense” mitigation efforts contained in the Kansas State Department of Education’s reopening guidance document mandatory.
This means mask usage, social distancing and daily temperature checks will be enforced regardless of the county that a school is located in. Kelly says as case numbers continue to trend upwards in Kansas, she cannot “in good conscious” reopen schools and expose millions of children to large daily social gatherings.
The delay will also apply to all school activities including sports.
USD 253 Superintendent Kevin Case tells KVOE News the announcement caught him by surprise, however, he says the additional three weeks the district now has to continue planning for the upcoming school year is welcomed.
At this time Case says there are three issues the district has to work through in the coming weeks. This includes how the delay will impact the required number of educational hours for students, the district’s academic calendar and when district staff will be permitted to return.
Case adds, the district had reached a point earlier this week where they felt comfortable in presenting a plan for reopening to the Board of Education. He says while the recent announcement will likely cause a setback in those efforts, he does not anticipate it will be a significant impact.
USD 251 North Lyon County says it plans to continue with its Kick Start and Jumpstart programs if precautionary plans are approved by Lyon County Public Health. Those plans are currently under review. USD 252 Southern Lyon County had a board meeting Wednesday night, discussing items like PPE stockpiles — mainly for masks — as well as cleaning timetables, space between students on buses and locker room adjustments. Both USD 251 Superintendent Bob Blair and USD 252 Superintendent Mike Argabright are updating KVOE News on Thursday.
Kelly’s comments came just hours after the state board of education formally passed the nearly 1,100-page “Navigating Change 2020” document. Secretary of Education Dr. Randy Watson says the document takes long-held Kansas academic and social-emotional standards and places them into grade banding, STEAM and humanities.
Watson says Kansas is facing a monumental task as every school district across Kansas will have to build its own “broad base support of parents, public health officials, doctors, county commissioners and superintendents” who will be responsible for creating a unique guide for each district’s future. Watson adds each plan will be different amongst districts based on its specific needs currently and in the future.
Kansas NEA President Mark Farr says schools should reopen only when it’s safe to do so, and the group will do what it can to uphold that standard. Farr says educators should not be forced to decide between work responsibilities and family well-being in times like this, and every school district should set up safety mandates regardless of actions by city or county governments.
Leaders in the Kansas House said the governor’s decision threatens to widen an achievement gap for students.
Governor Laura Kelly is scheduled to hold her next news briefing on Monday, at which time more information on her upcoming executive order is expected to be released. The State Board of Education will vote next week.
3:30 pm Wednesday: Start of school delayed until after labor day weekend
Kansas schools will reopen later than the academic calendars currently read.
In her weekly news conference Wednesday, Governor Laura Kelly announced her plans to issue an executive order Monday that will delay the start of school until after the Labor Day holiday weekend. Once school begins, mask usage, social distancing and temperature checks will be mandatory. All activities, including sports, are included in the delay.
Kelly’s decision came shortly after the Kansas State Board of Education approved the massive “Navigating Change 2020” plan for guiding schools through the pandemic, whether it’s in education models, facility cleanup, transportation, activities and food service.
This is a developing story. Much more on today’s developments are coming through the evening on KVOE and KVOE.com.
