BY SYDNEY HOOVER
Gov. Laura Kelly announced Thursday K-12 schools would close for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.
The executive order was made in consultation with other state entities, including the Department of Education, the Board of Education, the Association of School Boards, the School Superintendents Association, the United School Administrators of Kansas and the Kansas National Education Association.
“This was not an easy decision to make,” Kelly said in a news release. “It came after close consultation with the education professionals who represent local school boards, school administrators and local teachers. These unprecedented circumstances threaten the safety of our students and the professionals who work with them every day and we must respond accordingly.”
Eudora Superintendent Steve Splichal and School Board President Eric Votaw said in a message to families the district is working on contingency plans including how to provide meals for students. These plans will be communicated to families later in the week.
“While this will place a tremendous hardship on our families and staff, and impact the social and emotional well-being of our students, we will persevere and overcome this together,” the message said.
The staff and School Board will also continue working on “critical issues,” such as effects on graduating seniors, district employees and the 2020-21 school year. The message said the district will continue to send daily updates to families and communicate through social media.
Kelly ordered the state Board of Education to have a group of experts develop an education plan for the rest of the school year to ensure students “continue to receive high-quality education during this closure,” the news release said.
During a press conference, Kelly said hourly employees would continue to be paid but did not provide details as to how. Education Commissioner Randy Watson also said during the press conference schools could continue providing breakfast and lunch to children ages 1 to 18 in communities that apply for waivers.
Splichal and Votaw urged families to continue taking preventative measures to slow the public health crisis, including hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, keeping sick children at home and avoiding anyone with flu-like symptoms.
“We will persevere due to the resilience, determination, and pride that exists in our students, staff, and families,” the message to families said. “Our passion for students will lead us through these challenging times. Thank you for your continued patience and support.”
Reach reporter Sydney Hoover at eudoratimes@gmail.com.
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