Governor Parson meets with K-12 schools in Kansas City and across the state to discuss reopening plans

As the start of the fall semester draws nearer each day for K-12 and other schools across the state in Missouri, some districts continue to plan for reopening though remain somewhat unsure of what it will look like.

Governor Mike Parson met with school administrators and teachers from across the state over the last week to discuss their plans for this fall and how they are navigating the challenges of COVID-19, , according to a Tuesday news release from Parson’s office.

Parson met with faculty and staff from nearly every region of the state, stopping in Kansas City, Jefferson City, Neosho, Springfield, St. Louis, and areas of Northeast, Mo.

“We are very grateful for the hard work of our superintendents, administrators, teachers, and all school staff members to prepare for the upcoming school year,” Parson said in the release. “It was encouraging to hear about their plans to resume teaching, whether that be onsite classes, virtual learning, or a hybrid of both.”

Parson worked to address key questions on school reopening and acknowledged that every school district’s needs will vary.

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every school district will look different based on the needs of its students and community,” Parson said.

An updated document from the Departments of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and Health and Senior Services (DHSS) now includes information on the reactive strategies that Missouri schools should be prepared to address upon reopening, the release said.

This document includes what to do if a student or staff member becomes symptomatic at school, how to handle positive cases of COVID-19 in the school community, and how to best prepare to assist local health officials with contact identification and tracing.

To assist school districts with personal protective equipment (PPE), 1.8 million cloth masks have been made available through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the release said.

DESE and SEMA are currently working to develop a plan to distribute the masks to school districts and DESE and DHSS have also released PPE guidance for school nurses.

Other relief efforts from the state include the allocation of $7.5 million of the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund to a cost-share program with local counties to help schools cover the costs of PPE and medical supplies for school buildings and buses.

The Missouri National Guard has also provided additional personnel to pack and distribute meals to students across the state. 

“As we move forward with this school year, we remain focused on the health and safety of our students, school staff, and communities as a whole,” Parson said in the release. 

Over the next week, Parson will meet with leadership from Missouri colleges and universities to discuss higher education reopening plans.