Some Kansas City area schools closing, but most wait for direction on coronavirus
Private schools in the Kansas City area are among the first to announce major closures due to fears over the spread of coronavirus, while most public schools are planning for possible shutdowns later and waiting to hear more from health officials.
Concerns over the coronavirus come as area schools were preparing for spring break next week. Some schools are telling students to bring home iPads and other devices, just in case.
After Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas declared a state of emergency on Thursday, Kansas City’s St. Teresa’s Academy officials said they are vacating the campus for more than three weeks. For part of that time, classes will be delivered online only.
“As a result of the state of emergency … and guidelines of local health officials, we will not have students return to our campus until Monday, April 6,” the statement said.
The all-girls academy was scheduled to go on spring break March 16-20. Online classes will begin March 23 and go through April 3.
The Barstow School, a private K-12 school, canceled classes for Thursday and Friday ahead of a two-week spring break due to coronavirus concerns.
School officials said a family member of an employee at the school tested positive for the COVID-19. School officials canceled classes as a precaution but said the infected person had not been on the campus, and the related school employee had not shown any symptoms. No students or other school staff were exposed.
Spokeswoman Lisa Tulp said students and staff could return March 30 but that is not definite. “We may have to move to online,” Tulp said.
Kansas public schools
Olathe Public Schools and Kansas City Public Schools will be closed on Friday, one day early before spring break. Spring break ends for Olathe on March 24, and on March 23 for KCPS.
“We will be in communication with our staff and families next week regarding how we will approach the week after spring break,” said Ray Weikal, a KCPS spokesman.
He said the district, in which nearly 100% of students receive free and reduced-priced lunch, has been “planning for services like food distribution, virtual learning and deep cleaning in case we cancel school after spring break.
“We know that our families depend on us for multiple services, and we commit to continuing to support our families in the event of future closures,” Weikal said.
While Olathe buildings are closed, custodial staff will do a deep clean of all facilities. All student practices and activities will be suspended during spring break.
The Shawnee Mission school district is requiring students and teachers to take home devices and materials before spring break begins next week, in preparation for a potential school closure.
The De Soto school district also begins spring break next week, and Assistant Superintendent Alvie Cater said the district has no plans to close schools at this time.
Blue Valley school district officials said facilities would close at 5 p.m. Friday, then be deep cleaned during spring break, through March 22. All activities on and off campus will be suspended.
There were no confirmed cases of coronavirus in Kansas or Missouri schools as of Thursday afternoon. But the Kansas State Department of Education held a meeting to prepare districts in case officials decide to close public schools.
“At this point, we just need our schools to exercise common sense and remain calm in this. There are no intentional plans to universally close schools. That is not the case at all,” said Denise Kahler, a spokeswoman with the education department. “We are continuing on. But we do have plans in place if that changes.”
If local or state officials close a school in Kansas because of coronavirus, the school would have three options: Make up the missed time by June 30, submit a proposal to the state for online learning, or ask the state to waive the legally required number of days and hours that school must be in session.
Missouri schools
Other Missouri schools in this area met Thursday, and some leaders decided they would wait to hear from health officials about whether to halt classes.
“University Academy goes on spring break next week but has been preparing staff and parents for the very real possibility that school will be canceled for days or weeks beyond spring break,” said Doug Thaman, executive director of the Missouri Public Charter School Association.
Tony Kline, the charter school’s superintendent, said the school will give out laptops to families on Friday on a first-come first-served basis to make sure students have the tools to do school work remotely if necessary.
Center School District officials said that in the case of an outbreak in the Kansas City area, the district “would follow the Kansas City Health Department’s guidance on any quarantines, closures or other health measures needed.”
At issue, district officials said, is that so far “we have canceled six school days — five due to weather and one a parade day,” said Christina Medina, a district spokeswoman. “If no more days are canceled, the last day of school is Friday, May 22, allowing the district to meet state requirements to total at least 1,044 hours of class instruction.”
Some education advocates expressed concern about thousands of low-income households with children who depend on meals — breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner — they receive at school.
“As K-12 Districts in Kansas City grapple with the decision to close schools in response to the COVID-19 crisis, it is imperative that they factor into their plans how to ensure that our most vulnerable populations are not severely impacted,” said Gwendolyn Grant, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City.
Grant also expressed concern about working parents who would be challenged to find day care.
“Employers need to be flexible and supportive in these situations by allowing parents to work from home to the extent possible and not penalizing them in the event that they cannot get to work.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 8:11 PM.
