As schedule and operations adjustments hit school districts, community activities and sporting events, one municipal government in Coffey County is no longer immune to changes of its own.
The city of Burlington is encouraging residents to avoid going to offices inside City Hall to pay utilities or other city bills. Instead, residents are told to use the dropbox outside City Hall or pay online.
So far, no other area towns have announced similar measures. Emporia city leaders have been discussing a response to the coronavirus situation this week and will continue those talks Friday.
USD 253 announced through a press release that as of Thursday afternoon they are planning to resume classes on Monday once staff and students return from spring break. The district activated its emergency operations plan Wednesday after the World Health Organization officially declared coronavirus a worldwide pandemic.
In the same release, the district stated it is currently weighing impacts and implications of a short or mid-term closure of district buildings. District Community Relations Director Lyndel Landgren says there are a number of concerns to consider, namely the impact on their student’s educational opportunities.
Landgren says the district is taking the situation day-by-day and a timeline for when or if the district will announce a closure of any length is currently pending. The consideration comes after the Kansas State School Board of Education approved a measure suspending rules for districts if they close due to COVID-19. Districts will not be punished for shortening school days, suspending or canceling classes, education delivery methods and changing graduation requirements.
Landgren says those options provide the district with flexibility in the event of a long-term closure and they will again have to take a day-by-day approach in terms of exploring those options.
We’ll keep you updated on KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media.
