The majority of respondents to a parent/guardian survey in the Concordia R-2 School District want students back in school, with face-to-face classes at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.
According to Superintendent Brent Cooper, the district believes it received a survey from nearly every family in the district. After analyzing those responses, approximately 90 percent of parents/guardians are planning on sending their children back to school this fall and 100 percent of the staff.
Cooper says: “Obviously we want to provide a quality education for all of our students, and we are working diligently with our staff on possible alternative methods of educating the 10 percent that are considering not returning or are still undecided at this point. The majority of our staff was on campus this week to receive google classroom training which presented an opportunity to discuss survey results, reentry plans, requisition needs, and address questions/concerns with them as a group. Our food-service staff met this week, as well with the administration team, to finalize protocols and procedures to ensure a safe (and) smooth start; and we met with Fowler Bus Service to finalize a transportation plan as well.”
Cooper continued: “The district intends to have in place a reentry plan to present to the board on August 13 for approval based on information provided by the community, staff, board of education and the information we have acquired regarding area schools that participated in summer school and extra-curricular activities. We will give our staff and board the opportunity to look the document over and provide additional comment and suggestions before releasing a final document publicly on the anticipated date of August 14. We previously released some intentions concerning practices/protocols in the parent/guardian survey that is still accessible on our website.
“It is the intention of the district for our reentry plan to meet the needs of our students, staff and community, while considering guidelines set by local, county, state agencies and the CDC. We will continue to collaborate with the Lafayette County Health Department and the aforementioned entities along with area school educators and officials to ensure our plan is reasonable and easily communicated, yet expresses the significant changes to practices and protocols we are implementing to ensure the safety of our students and staff members.”
Cooper adds: “The guidelines and protocols outlined in this document are subject to revision as needed to reflect local, state and federal guidance and the current city and county conditions, as evidenced by the Lafayette County Health Department resolution for schools and public health alert released (last week). The resolution recommends that the school start date be postponed until September 14, and all sports be discontinued for the fall semester/term.
“The health alert recommends that county residents age two or above wear a cloth face covering when in a public setting where other social-distancing measures are difficult to maintain. The superintendents of the Lafayette County schools are attempting to meet this week or next to discuss the resolution and alert in detail. I have hesitated to release a public plan previously to minimize the number of changes necessary due to possible local, state or federal guidelines, mandates or recommendations anticipated as we near the start of the new school year.”