Kansas education officials release guidance for school reopening

State education officials released guidance Tuesday that lays out a plan to help with the start of the upcoming new school year.

Leaders emphasized that local districts with local input will decide how their schools will reopen.

The board is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the “Navigating Change 2020” draft guidance which details school safety operations.

Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson acknowledged a wide variance of public opinion existed on how schools should re-start, along with much anxiety as the start of school approaches in mid-August as COVID-19 cases have been on the rise.

Watson urged calm, patience and collaboration. He pleaded with Kansans to stay off of social media and instead volunteer to help districts put their local plan together. “When we roll up our sleeves, we will find the solution,” he said.

Within the “Navigating Change 2020” document is detailed classroom instruction to balanced learning in all grades. Teachers will probably focus on the parts of the plan that deal with their specific grade bands, officials said.

Some of the operating guidance at schools include:

— Students above fifth-grade, staff and school visitors should wear masks;

— Everyone should wash hands every hour;

— Social distancing of at least six feet should occur wherever possible;

— Students and employees who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 should be prohibited from school;

— Meal service periods should be extended to allow for fewer students in the serving area at one time.

Education officials said health experts said children fifth-grade and under probably shouldn’t wear masks because the masks would be a distraction to them.

There is also guidance advising daily temperature readings of students although the document acknowledges at large schools that could cause more problems if large numbers of students have to line up to get their temperatures read.

Watson said he expected school district reopening plans will vary, depending on the status of COVID-19 spread in their areas.