State shuts school buildings

It was announced late Tuesday afternoon that Kansas school buildings will close for the remainder of the school year due to the COVID-19 situation, and a task force will begin devising a plan for Continuous Learning.

The Kansas State Department of Education issued a statement that Gov. Laura Kelly announced “school buildings across the state must be closed for the duration of this school year for the purpose of general student and staff attendance. However, learning will continue for Kansas students.”

The press release states,“a 25-member task force comprised of many of the state’s top educators in Kansas continues working to develop plans for Continuous Learning. The task force will deliver their recommendations to Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson by Wednesday evening.”

The KSDE stated in its release “essential staff members – as determined by local district officials – may be needed through Friday, March 20, to assess and prepare for facility maintenance. While schools are closed, administrative offices and support facilities may remain open as needed.

“Once buildings are thoroughly sanitized, they will be able to reopen for small groups of school personnel to implement a plan for Continuous Learning,” the release states. “Kansas education is among the finest in the country. Closing classrooms and moving to a Continuous Learning plan can’t begin to replicate our state’s education structure as we know it, but it can help ensure strategies that will provide a bridge back to the world-class learning our students benefit from today.”

Ted Hessong, USD 234 superintendent, said late Tuesday afternoon the recommendation from the state is to close “school buildings, but not the school year.

“So we will shut down the buildings but will be looking at alternatives and recommendations for continuous learning,” he said.

Hessong said district staff planned to meet today to begin forming a plan for alternative learning in the school district for the remainder of the school year.

“We’re not sure what continuous learning will look like,” he said, adding it will be “left up to each individual district as to what that looks like.”

Hessong said district officials plan to provide public updates through the planning process.

“Of course the school board would have to approve all of that, but we will get out as soon as possible what we do know moving forward,” he said.

Hessong said as of Tuesday, there has been no official announcement from the Kansas State High School Activities Association regarding suspension of spring sports and other activities for the remainder of the school year, “but we’re expecting something soon.”

According to the KSHSAA website, www.kshsaa.org, effective March 16, “all spring sports and activities are suspended through Sunday, March 22. This includes cancellation of all practices and competitions for this week. This prohibition is consistent with KSDE and governmental guidance and may be extended, should conditions warrant.”

Bret Howard, USD 235 superintendent, issued a statement to parents on the district’s website and social media page. As for details of how the district will handle things, Howard said recommendations would come from a committee today. Because there were too many unknowns Tuesday evening, Howard said he was not ready to comment.

The following is his statement:

“At 4 p.m. (Tuesday),) Governor Laura Kelly announced the closing of all Kansas schools through the remainder of the school year. With this recommendation, as well as our own concern for the safety and well-being of our students and families, USD 235 Uniontown Schools will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. What we have known as a traditional school day will look very different for the remainder of this school year.

“We understand this brings many questions and concerns from our community. District and Building Leadership, in partnership with the Board of Education, have started working through our next steps as a district.

“Here is what we know now:

“• Spring Break, March 23-27, will remain student and staff time off as scheduled.

“• The following week, March 30-April 3, will be a planning week for our staff to implement the plan provided by KSDE and the Kansas Extended Learning Task Force. Once the plan is ready to implement we will notify students and families of what this will look like going forward.

“• USD 235 will continue to provide meals until March 20 and begin again following spring break.

“• USD 235 will make every effort to provide opportunities to our Eagles for continuous learning with the guidelines provided by KDHE and KSDE. We will take every Eagle into consideration moving forward.

“• At this time, all USD 235 activities and events occurring on or before Friday, May 29, have been postponed. We will be looking at options to reschedule events as possible after that date. This includes graduation.

“We ask for your patience as we navigate this unprecedented situation and work through additional details. As we have more specifics about what services we will be able to provide for families in need during this closure, we will communicate through our regular means.”

The following information was obtained from the two districts and Fort Scott Community College prior to the announcement.

Educational institutions in Bourbon County had already put changes in place in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Fort Scott Community College

FSCC officials announced March 17 that the college’s Spring Commencement scheduled for May 15 is cancelled. Students planning to graduate in May still need to complete the Petition to Graduate Form. Students who have submitted the form to the registrar’s office do not need to resubmit. Graduate assessment testing (ETS Proficiency Profile and WorkKeys) is cancelled for this semester, according to a statement issued Tuesday afternoon by FSCC President Alysia Johnston.

A statement issued March 15 by FSCC President Alysia Johnston states the college has been following KDHE and Kansas State Department of Education guidelines for closing schools.

“There are no specific guidelines for community colleges in Kansas as we are locally governed,” Johnston said. “We have students travel to campus from a wide geographical area which exposes our campus community and makes FSCC more vulnerable to the possible spread of infection.

“With this in mind, we have decided to immediately begin spring break from March 16 through March 27.”

In the statement, Johnston said starting March 30, FSCC will transition to online instruction delivered through the college’s learning management system, Blackboard, for all general education courses. All courses, even those beginning the semester online, will observe the two-week break in classes. No instruction, exams, quizzes, attendance or material will be required of the students during this two-week period. Johnston said students should “adjust schedules accordingly, and do not make exceptions to this guidance.”

All technical instruction at the Career and Technical Education Center, Allied Health courses specific to high school students, welding and construction trades at the Miami County campus, construction trades at the La Harpe campus, agricultural technology (John Deere and welding) at the Fort Scott campus, Allied Health courses specific to high schools on the Burke Street campus, and Harley-Davidson will continue face-to-face instruction beginning March 30.

“We will evaluate the situation through consultation with state and local agencies to determine a timeline for the resumption of on-campus classes,” Johnston said.

The following will be FSCC’s schedule of operations:

• March 16-27, spring break (no classes or instruction.)

• March 16-20, employees report to campus as scheduled.

• March 30, online instruction begins for all general education courses; face-to-face technical program instruction resumes.

• Standard employee hours resume.

• FSCC will remain with online instruction for general education courses for the remainder of the semester.

Faculty will be expected to remain on campus March 16-20 for the implementation of online course delivery. Workshops and resources will be provided to faculty as they prepare to transition their classes to an online modality. Employees who the CDC indicates are at-risk due to age or medical necessity may contact his or her direct supervisor to request workplace modifications or leave time, the statement said.

FSCC administrators are working with human resources to determine a plan and staffing requirements that will accommodate student needs on campus and to support college operations during this time. The campus is open and staff are expected to report to work at their usual time.

Citing recommendations by the CDC, as well as state and local health organizations, all on-campus events will be cancelled or postponed until further notice. This includes campus tours, college recruitment events and events hosted by outside organizations within campus facilities. This also includes meetings and/or lunches hosted on campus by local civic organizations, the statement said.

Students who currently live in the college dorms, who have no other place to reside, will be allowed to remain in the dorms. Students are allowed to stay in the dorms until March 20, but are encouraged to check out permanently for the semester during this timeframe.

FSCC will also adhere to a ruling by the National Junior College Athletic Association that all athletic events will be cancelled through April 3, the statement said.

“At FSCC we are making decisions based on thoughtful review of available information, and working in conjunction with the Bourbon County Health Department, Emergency Management, and also state and federal agencies,” Johnston said. “The continuous monitoring of critical information and a phased approach in our response concerning campus events, athletic events, and alternative methods of instruction allows us the opportunity to be flexible in our approach to a rapidly evolving public health issue.

“The decisions being made prioritize the safety and health of all faculty, staff, students, and community. These decisions are aimed at minimizing the impact of this public health issue. This situation is continually evolving and future guidance will be provided as new information becomes available.”

Further notifications regarding COVID-19 can be found on the FSCC website at www.fortscott.edu/node/2399.

USD 234

In a March 16 statement on the district’s website, USD 234 Superintendent Ted Hessong addressed the issue of food service should district schools not be open after spring break. Hessong said the district will provide food service to its students.

Robin Button, food service director, “is working on applying for a waiver from the Kansas Department of Education and then will devise a plan on how to provide food to our students. We hope to have this plan completed by Wednesday, March 18 and we will share the information with everyone once it is completed. The district is not able to provide food service to students during the scheduled spring break because the school district was already scheduled to be closed during this week,” Hessong said.

Hessong said district administrators and some personnel were to meet today to consider any plans regarding the school day and the USD 234 calendar of events based on guidance from the Commissioner of Education and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment if and when district schools could be open. Hessong said more information will be shared as it becomes available.

On March 15, Watson recommended all Kansas school districts be closed March 15-20, a recommendation which was supported by Gov. Laura Kelly, state legislators and KDHE. Hessong said in a statement on the district’s website that “since USD 234 is on spring break the week of March 15-20, this does not affect our days of attendance for our school district. All buildings will be closed except for essential personnel designated by the district office. There will be no practices or activities allowed during spring break.”

On March 13, Hessong issued a statement regarding the district’s procedures related to COVID-19. If KDHE directs the school district to close its school buildings due to the coronavirus, the district has three options:

• Make up the missed time prior to June 30; submit a proposal to KSDE for online learning that can be counted as time in school; submit to Dr. Watson and the State Board of Education to waive the legally required number of days and hours that school must be in session.

USD 235

USD 235 Superintendent Bret Howard also addressed food service in the district in a statement released March 16 on the district’s website.

“In accordance with helping parents and students during the Coronavirus Pandemic, lunches are to be made available to students starting Tuesday, March 17. Sack lunches may be picked up at the following locations between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, and Thursday, March 19: Uniontown (WBE main entrance outside); Redfield (Marmaton Community Church – west side); Bronson (Bronson Locker); and Mapleton (City Park).

“Each day there will be breakfast items and lunch items available to students for two days. Tuesday will have Tuesday lunch, Wednesday breakfast, Wednesday lunch, and Thursday breakfast. Thursday will have Thursday lunch, Friday breakfast, and Friday lunch. Please understand, we will only have the above-mentioned pick up points. We will be unavailable to deliver door-to-door. If you plan to participate we ask that you call Food Service Director Michelle DeMott (620) 238-4968 and let her know as well as the number of student-meals you want to pick up. Also, please understand that the students will need to be there to pick up the meals. We are not able to let adults pick up meals for students with no students present.”

District officials have also placed a link for current information relating to the coronavirus on its website at www.uniontown235.org. There is a red button at the top of the page titled “COVID-19 information.”

Howard said in a March 15 statement all district schools will be closed through Friday, March 20.

“Effective immediately, all district events and extracurricular activities are canceled until the district reopens or further notice. This includes all district-sponsored professional development, athletics, fine arts, clubs, and group events. This also includes the weight room and Fitness Center. Spring break, which is March 23-27, will continue as scheduled. Closing all schools during this period of time provides Kansas officials and USD 235 administration the time needed to finalize a comprehensive plan for how to address COVID-19.

“While the district is closed, the District Crisis Response Team and essential personnel for this evolving situation will continue to consult with local health authorities and convene virtually and regularly in order to conduct a full and ongoing assessment of risks for students and staff.

“We encourage our students and staff to follow recommended social distancing and healthy hygiene habits provided by KDHE and the Bourbon County Health Department.”

Private schools

Patrick Whalen, headmaster at St. Martin’s Academy, a Catholic boarding school for high school boys, said in an email that school officials have “watched the COVID-19 developments closely and yesterday (Monday) made the decision to send our students home for what we hope is nothing more than an early spring break of about two weeks. If the pandemic recedes soon we will be glad to resume studies on campus in the near future. If the peak is yet to come, we think it best for the boys to weather this time of uncertainty with their families and will implement a distance study program in order to keep them on track for the academic year.

“In the meantime, the faculty and staff are continuing the Academy’s farming operations, curriculum development and enjoying time with their own families on spring break,” Whalen said.

The Tribune did not receive responses to phone messages left Tuesday for St. Mary’s Catholic School and Fort Scott Christian Heights. An attempt to reach the Christian Learning Center was not successful.