By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board voted Thursday to start school in-person on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Their vote was unanimous.
The school board weighed four other options, including starting school on Aug. 19 either in person or remotely or starting in person on Sept. 1 or Sept. 8.
Educators say they want kids back on site
Several school principals spoke to the board about the start date during Thursday's special meeting. They all expressed a desire to have students back in schools for in-person learning. They said they thought in-person learning would best to meet students's academic, social and emotional needs.
The educators expressed concerns schools might have to return to remote learning if COVID-19 numbers increase. Several said they were concerned COVID-19 numbers were likely to increase as Fort Hays State University students to return to Hays next month.
The administrators said opening in August would allow students to meet and connect with their teachers and learn about remote learning.
Kerri Lacy, Lincoln Elementary School principal, said meeting teachers is very important to small children, especially for kindergarten students who are experiencing school for the first time.
"My biggest fear is to start completely remote with 5-, 6-, 7- and 8-year-olds," Lacy said. "I have 5-year-olds that don't even know what a teacher is."
Lacy told the board teachers will be prepared no matter what start date the board chose.
Surveys say remote learning not preferred
The district surveyed parents and teachers, and starting remotely was not a popular choice among district stakeholders, Board President Mike Walker said.
Lance Krannawitter, HHS assistant principal and activities director, said the high school has already had between 250 and 450 students go through its doors on a daily basis for weights training.
The school has been taking student temperatures daily and rigorously cleaning equipment, he said.
"If you want to use that as an example," he said, "we're ready to go. The number of coaches and teachers I have talked to, they are ready to go also."
He continued "The kids have been out of school for so long. They have been away from activities for so long. If we delay the school any more and then maybe we have to go to a phase three situation that makes us have to cancel school, that is just all the fewer school days that we have with our students."
KSHSAA has set Aug. 17 as the start date for activity practices. He said HHS intends to keep with that calendar regardless of the school start date.
Martin Straub, HHS principal, said he is especially concerned about the social and emotional needs of the students.
"We are very, very interested in seeing our kids, in the event their is growth [of COVID-19] in the area, so we can try to connect with them as much as possible," Straub said.
Board member Lance Bickle asked Straub about surveys sent to the teachers on which option they would choose. Straub said a Hays NEA survey indicated teachers most favored starting in-person learning to start on Aug. 19.
Straub said he wants to get students back in school so they can focus on something positive and build a culture of school again.
Hays Middle School Principal Tom Albers said he was setting a goal for his teachers to instruct students on remote learning in the first week to week and a half of school.
Then the students could practice remote learning on-site the second week of school. He said he wanted students to be prepared if the school district has to go back to remote learning.
Like Lacy, Albers said he was concerned about HMS's youngest students — the sixth graders who will experiencing the middle school routine for the first time.
Teachers, staff will receive safety training
Walker asked if the district had enough time to train teachers and staff on COVID-19 safety protocols.
Superintendent Ron Wilson said all of the calendar options that were presented included an extra in-service day to train staff and teachers in COVID-19 safety protocols.
Board member Allen Park asked if all of the cleaning supplies and equipment was going to be ready for an August start date.
Rusty Lindsay, director of buildings and grounds, said most of the cleaning supplies the district has ordered have arrived. If it doesn't receive the last of the items next week, it has alternatives to cover all of its needs.
Wilson also said the district hopes to add another nurse who will be designated as the contact person on all COVID-19 questions and concerns. It would be a one-year position.
Shooting for ending year by Memorial Day
Board member Tammy Wellbrock asked if the later options were not favored by teachers and parents becuase a delayed start of school would mean the end of school would be pushed into June.
Wilson said his goal for Thursday was to get a start date and then the calendar committee would reconvene to work out the calendar revisions, including an end date.
Wilson Elementary School Principal Anita Scheve, who is on the calendar committee, said she thought if the district would start school on Aug. 26, the calendar could be adjusted to still end school before Memorial Day.
Wilson said breaks might have to be shortened to do that because the Kansas Board of Education has not reduced the number of contact hours required for students.
Wilson said some people have suggested adding minutes to the school day. He said that is not preferred. He said adding minutes does not necessarily mean the same amount or quality of learning will take place.
A compromise
Ellis County has had more cases of COVID-19 in recent weeks. The delayed start dates were proposed in hopes local COVID-19 numbers would decline by the start of school, Wilson said. However, he said the opposite could happen. Ellis County could have more cases if the district waits.
Bickle said Aug. 26 was a good compromise between Aug. 19 and the dates in September.
Wellbrock asked about the possibility of opening in a hybrid phase. In this phase students would attend on-site part-time and engage in remote learning part-time.
Wilson said many of the details of hybrid learning still have yet to be determined. He added this is going to be most challenging phase in terms of logistics for both the district and families.
Wilson said the district will consult the health professionals and the county public health officer about moving between phases. He said he hopes to meet with this group weekly on Wednesdays. The group hopes to have a phase change take affect on a Monday, so everyone would have four days to make adjustments to new schedules.
The district has developed a matrix to aid in that decision-making process, but Wilson said it does not include any specific numbers for what would trigger a phase change. Health officials advised the district officials will need to look at a variety of factors.
Patience, flexibility and grace
All the board members thanked the community, parents, teachers and staff for the input they gave on the proposed start dates and draft school reopening plan.
Walker acknowledged in his opening remarks any decision the board made would not please everyone. He said the board members are listening and trying to respond to concerns and have the children's, teachers's and staff's safety in the forefront of their minds.
Wilson said he hopes the community will continue to be have patience, flexibility and grace with the district as it moves forward, as plans will likely need to be changed as the school year progress.
Wilson also noted a change since Monday. He learned KSHSAA has changed it policy and will allow online-only students to participate in extracurricular activities. The district has changed its policy to match KSHSAA.