The update by the Kansas Department of Education acknowledged that the lasting impacts of COVID-19 will still affect how the state’s schools will reopen. In an effort to be well prepared to make the best decision, the department has put together a task force to develop “comprehensive guidance” for reopening school buildings in the safest possible way.
Randy Watson, the Kansas Commissioner of Education, was the person who assembled this task force. Watson said the task of reopening the school buildings would be a challenge for the state of Kansas, and thereby justifying the decision to create a task force to deal with the matter.
“This is a huge lift for our state. We have assembled the best minds in Kansas to address any scenario our education system might encounter as a result of this pandemic,” Watson said in his statement.
According to the update, almost 1,000 Kansas teachers, parents, and administrators are currently working with the department’s staff members to create a plan. The update said the department would consider sanitation, food service, social distancing, and busing as factors in making a final plan.
“Our Continuous Learning Task Force laid the groundwork earlier this spring when school buildings were forced to close. Now, we’re building from that work and the lessons we’ve learned to create an even more comprehensive resource to help guide schools this fall,” Watson said.
The Kansas Department of Education will convene next in July to approve a plan on the fall semester. The approved plan will then be available to the school districts of Kansas shortly thereafter.