Blue Valley parents await schools decision after board meets

Blue Valley parents await schools decision after board meets

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment recommends middle and high school students start the year virtually due to current data related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the county.

But the Blue Valley School District has decided to chart its own course.

WEEK BY WEEK BASIS.WHAT THE SCHOOL YEARWILL LOOK LIKE IS STILLUNCLEAR FOR STUDENTS,TEACHERS, AND PARENTSIN BLUE VALLEY SCHOOLSTHIS... AFTER THEDISTRICT CHOSE TO NOTFOLLOW THE JOHNSONCOUNTY HEALTHDEPARTMENT'S GATINGCRITERIA.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER JORDAN BETT'SDUG DEEPER INTO THEIMPACT OF THIS DECISION.Jordan Betts, 41 Action NewsReporter"Johnson County HealthDepartment RECOMMENDEDMOST STUDENTS start theyear virtually due to theincrease of COVID-19.

So,Shawnee Mission and DeSoto School district DID SO --BUT Blue Valley NOW SAYSITS creating IT'S own plan."Jennifer Savner Levinson, BlueValley Mom"Things are changing momentby moment.

That is what ismost stressful."EVERY DAY MEANS LESSTIME TO PREPARE FORPARENTS --AND RIGHT NOW, THEYSTILL DO NOT HAVE A FINALANSWER FOR THEIR KIDS.Michelle Mitchell/Parent"We"re asking you to giveus the choice and let usevaluate the risks and dowhat's best for our families."LATE TUESDAY, THEDISTRICT DECIDED TONOT USE THE COUNTY'SGATING CRITERIA --IT WILL NOW USE THESTATE'S ALONG WITHLOCAL DATA TODETERMINE THE NEXTSTEPS.Dr. Chris Jenson/MedicalConsultantand Educator at Blue ValleySchoolDistrict"This year is going to ebb andflow like no other year, and wewill plan and we will usemigration strategies."BLUE VALLEY PARENT ANDFORMER TEACHERJENNIFER SAVNERLEVINSON WOULD LIKE TOSEE HER DAUGHTER GOBACK TO IN-PERSONLEARNING.Jennifer Savner Levinson, BlueValley Mom"She's a junior.

She is takingphysics and calculus andthings that I can't help herwithat home.

She needs thestructure of a school day,interacting with a teacher."THE FORMER TEACHERGETS THE STRESS FROMEDUCATORS ON SAFETYPRECAUTIONS AND KIDSWANTING TO GO BACK TOSCHOOL.BUT WHEN IT COMES TOMAKING A BIG DECISIONLIKE THIS, SHE SAYS ITSHOUDN'T BE TAKENLIGHTLY.Jennifer Savner Levinson, BlueValley Mom"When people refer to datafrom the last five months,those are five months of noschool.

To use that data toreassure and prove andguarantee that things will gowell is apples and oranges."41 ACTION NEWS SPOKETO SEVERAL BLUE VALLEYSCHOOL DISTRICTTEACHERS BUT NONEWANTED TO GO ONCAMERA.ONE DID SAY IT'S "VERYDISHEARTENING ANDCONCERNING THE BLUEVALLEY BOARD OFEDUCATION CHOSE NOT TOFOLLOW THE JOCO GATINGCRITERIA."Jordan"The TEACHERS Unionpresident FOR BLUE VALLEYis working with the districtregarding last night"sdecision and did not have timeto comment.

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