LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Another Kansas school district is extending its Thanksgiving break to a full week to give overwhelmed staff a reprieve. The USD 497 school board in Lawrence approved a plan Friday to turn Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 _ a Monday and a Tuesday _ into wellness and self-care days. Staff already had the rest of the week off.
Superintendent Anthony Lewis told the board during the meeting that the time off was needed because faculty and staff were at a breaking point from the stress and other difficulties caused by the coronavirus.
The Lansing school district also extended Thanksgiving break to a full week. The USD 469 board's decision to give staff Nov. 22 and 23 off as wellness days was based on the recommendation of Superintendent Dan Wessel.
He said that staff has been “presented with an overwhelming amount of responsibility this school year amid the ongoing pandemic." The school district said that if the school district reaches the maximum number of snow days it will make them up before the end of the year.