Shawnee Mission changes course: Sports allowed, some students to return to classrooms
Following the lead of every other district in Johnson County, the Shawnee Mission school board agreed Wednesday to immediately allow fall sports, despite surging coronavirus cases.
With protesters shouting “Let them play” in the background, the board voted 5-2 to let sports resume. Superintendent Mike Fulton also announced plans to slowly bring elementary students back into classrooms next month.
Before the vote, Shawnee Mission was the only district in Johnson County that had still suspended sports and also required all students to begin the school year online on Tuesday. Other districts, like Olathe and Blue Valley, are having older students learn online but have allowed elementary students to return to class part-time, in a hybrid model.
Shawnee Mission officials agreed to follow guidance from the Johnson County health department, which shows the county is in the “red” zone based on the high level of COVID-19 transmission. In that zone, the county advises that sports be banned. It also recommends that older students learn online, but does allow elementary students to return to class.
Board member Jessica Hembree said she could not accept that the district is rushing to immediately allow sports, but is taking several weeks to bring elementary students back to class.
“I think where I feel the saddest is that I wish we were applying this level of urgency … to get our elementary kids into school as quickly as possible, in person, five days a week — which is what (the county) has approved since the end of July,” Hembree said.
“On something like activities and athletics, where I understand we’re the last district standing, we’re just flipping a switch and making it happen. And I wish we could apply the same level of diligence to in-person instruction,” she said.
Richard Kramer, director of athletics and activities, argued that athletes have been practicing and conditioning, off and on, since June. He said he feels confident that coaches and teams have enough experience implementing safety protocols, such as masks and symptom screenings, to proceed with sports.
Hembree and school board president Heather Ousley were the only members to vote against allowing fall sports to resume.
Sports to begin
Dozens of students protested outside of the meeting, which some board members said did not inspire confidence that social distancing and other mitigation strategies will be followed.
“I’m worried about scenes like outside here, happening outside the gates of the school, (at a) Friday night football game and a bunch of middle and high schoolers decide they’re going to hang out in the parking lot and watch the game over the fence,” board member Sara Goodburn said. “I don’t want to have crowds at these games like we saw right outside our window.”
Across Johnson County, districts have reversed previous decisions banning sports, as they faced ongoing protests and threats of lawsuits. Four Shawnee Mission East High School golfers sued the district over the decision to suspend sports, for example.
The sports decision came with a warning for students: They must social distance, wear masks and follow other safety protocols.
Board members also discussed occupancy limits at games, as well as punitive measures if students do not abide by the restrictions, although specific decisions were not made.
With school districts deciding to go against county health officials’ guidance and allow sports to continue, Sanmi Areola, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment, released a letter Tuesday.
“School districts, working with parents, have chosen the paths that include allowing athletics and other extracurricular activities,” he said.
“From a public health viewpoint, based on the level of transmission in the community, JCDHE does not recommend conducting high risk activities, where close contact and an inability to wear masks leads to an increased risk of exposure. However, as the districts are choosing to open in different ways, JCDHE’s role is to take these into consideration in providing public health recommendations and guidance that will prevent and minimize the impacts of COVID-19 on our students, teachers and staff.”
At Wednesday’s meeting, Fulton also shared a statement from Areola saying, “I am O.K. with SMSD proceeding” with sports and activities, adding that sports are already taking place throughout the county. A health department spokeswoman confirmed that comment was made.
Areola suggested daily symptom screening, mask requirements and containing student athletes in groups, where they are less likely to spread the virus in school buildings once older students are allowed to return.
“High-risk athletics, because of excessive exhalation, close physical contact, and a lack of masks, presents an increased risk of exposure,” he wrote. “Therefore, if the schools must allow these at this time, they should ensure they take adequate safety precautions to minimize risks.”
Coronavirus cases continue to rise in Johnson County. On Wednesday, the county reported that over the last 14 days, 12% of coronavirus tests came back positive. If the rate reaches 15%, county officials would recommend that schools fully shut down.
Grade schools look to return
Fulton also announced plans to bring elementary students back into classrooms full-time.
Again, Shawnee Mission is the only district in Johnson County that has required them to learn online for the start of the school year. A couple of days into the fall semester, Fulton said there were plans to change that.
He said that all students will continue learning remotely through Oct. 2. After that, elementary students will slowly be reintroduced into classrooms. First, they’ll learn in a hybrid model, going to class part of the week and learning at home the rest.
By Oct. 19, district officials hope that elementary students will be allowed to fully return to class.
County health officials point to research showing that younger children are less likely to transmit the virus. In addition, the officials said, “most young children are unable to stay home safely by themselves.”
Both Olathe and Blue Valley allowed elementary students back into classrooms this week, to learn in a hybrid model.
Fulton also said that parents must select a learning model for their students to follow for the remainder of the school year. This summer upon enrollment, families chose whether to have their children learn online for the first semester or let them return to class when allowed.
Now, some parents are frustrated that they must make that same decision again, but this time, for the entire school year. The deadline for selecting a learning model is Sunday.
“I just feel like the rug has been pulled out from under us. We have to make a decision that will affect the entire school year now instead of getting to change our minds (at) semester if things improved,” parent Alycia Jiskra told The Star, saying that her kindergartner begins classes on Thursday. “We have to make a decision … for the entire school year after only two days of remote learning.”
Fulton said that officials are working on building “sustainable” learning models “that will keep us in school.”
He said there will likely be logistical challenges as schools try to limit class sizes, and that some teachers might have to move assignments.
Middle and high schoolers will continue learning online, although Fulton said he is working with the county health department to determine how to bring older students back to class as well.
This story was originally published September 9, 2020 at 7:07 PM.
