SMSD superintendent: School to start remote only, fall activities suspended

SMSD will start school year virtual-only, suspends athletics

SHAWNEE MISSIONSCHOOL DISTRICT MADETHE CALL TODAY.ALL STUDENTS WILLSTART CLASS -- VIRTUALLY-- AND FALL SPORTS WILLBE SUSPENDED UNTILCOVID CASE NUMBERS GODOWN.ARIEL ROTHFIELD TALKEDTO PARENTS -- ABOUT THEDECISION.ARIEL.EARLIER THIS SUMMETHE SHAWNEE MISSIONSCHOOL DISTRICT HADPARENTS FILL OUT ASURVEYCHOOSING WHETHER THEYWOULD LIKE THEIR KIDS TOLEARN IN-PERSON ORONLINEITS ONE OF THE REASONSPARENTS AND STUDENTSTELL ME THEY FELTBLINDSIDED BY TODAY'SANNOUNCEMENTWITH THE START OFSCHOOL AROUND THECORNER,THE SANDS FAMILY MADE ATOUGH DECISIONMichelle Sands/ ParentBased on our family needsand what would work best forus, we picked in-personschoolsWHICH IS WHY MICHELLEWAS SURPRISED TO FINDTHIS EMAIL IN HER INBOXFROM THE SHAWNEEMISSION SCHOOL DISTRICTANNOUNCING THE STARTOF SCHOOL WILL ALL BEVIRTUALMichelle Sands/ ParentI am just hoping we get backinto the schoolAN ANNOUNCEMENT SOMEAPPLAUDED THE DISTRICTFOR MAKINGDiamel Kerr/ Related to TeacherI'm related to a teacher so thefact that she can teach whilesocial distancing, that justsounds like a great optionTHE DECISION FOLLOWEDA MEETING TUESDAYAFTERNOON WITH THEJOHNSON COUNTYDEPARTMENT OF HEALTHAND ENVIRONMENTMike Fulton/ Shawnee MissionSchool District SuperintendentAND ENVIRONMENTMike Fulton/ Shawnee MissionSchool District SuperintendentWe're not doing the science,they are.

They are giving usguidance and we have to takethat guidance and put it intopracticePRACTICE THAT WILL SOONSTOP ON THE FOOTBALLAND SOCCER FIELDSTHE DISTRICT NOT ONLYMOVING CLASSES ONLINEBUT ALSO SUSPENDINGALL FALL ACTIVITIES ANDSPORTSMike Fulton/ Shawnee MissionSchool District SuperintendentWe recognize that havingstudents involved in activitiesand athletics is reallyimportant.

We want that tohappen but we want to do itsafelySHAWNEE MISSION SAYSITS TRACKING DATAWEEKLY WITH JOHNSONCOUNTYAS OF MONDAY- THECOUNTY'S 14 DAY ROLLINGPOSITIVE RATE STOOD ATMORE THAN 11 PERCENTA NUMBER, THE DISTRICTSAYS, NEEDS TO GO DOWNFOR STUDENTS TO STEPBACK ON THE FIELD ORINTO THE CLASSROOMMike Fulton/ Shawnee MissionSchool District SuperintendentWe'll look closely three to fourweeks out to get an idea ofwhere we might be in terms ofthe criteria to begin to thinkabout when we can begin tobring our students back intoclassMy guess is sometimeSeptember, beginning ofOctober.A TIMELINE MICHELLESANDS WISHES WASSOONERMichelle Sands/ ParentYou can't make everybodyhappy.

You can't pleaseeverybody, I know they had adifficult decision to make butitwas unfortunate.AS FAR AS THE FALLSPORTS GO,THE SHAWNEE MISSIONSCHOOL DISTRICT SAYSIT'S REACHING OUT TO THEKANSAS STATE HIGHSCHOOL ACTIVITIESASSOCIATION FORGUIDANCETO SEE WHETHER FALLSPORTS CAN BEPOSTPONED TO THESPRING IF IT'S NOTPOSSIBLE TO RESUMELATER THIS FALLREPORTING LIVE.

ARIELROTHFIELD.

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