Students will return to Wichita schools in the fall amid pandemic under USD 259 plan

Student in Wichita Public Schools will return to in-person classes in Fall 2020 under the district’s current plan for education during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are planning for a return to campus in August, but also know that we may have some alternating schedule that first week for that soft launch to ease everyone back into that school year,” Assistant Superintendent Tiffinie Irving told the USD 259 Board of Education on Tuesday.

While the district is focusing its planning on returning to onsite classes, there will also be plans in case the public health emergency necessitates moving to online-only learning or a hybrid that blends in-person and online.

“This virus is unpredictable, and its impact on us is uncontrollable,” Irving said. “It is important to keep in mind that our plans may have to change due to these circumstances beyond our control.”

Detailed information on the plans was not provided to the board. A finalized plan is expected to be released July 20 detailing what students, parents and teachers can expect from the 2020-21 school year. The date nearly three weeks away is to allow for modifications after state education officials release their guidelines on July 16.

Among the details that haven’t been finalized is whether face masks will be required.

Board member Ron Rosales asked how the district would handle a situation where a student refuses to wear a mask — if wearing masks were required.

Superintendent Alicia Thompson said that while administrators are aware of the governor’s planned executive order mandating the use of masks while in public, the school district has not made a decision on whether masks will be required in the fall.

“We are waiting on her to see what her guidelines are saying to us,” Thompson said.

She said more guidance is needed from lawyers and public health officials on how to respond if people were to defy a mask requirement.

“Our school district is a microcosm of our larger community,” said school board member Ben Blankley, who wears a mask during board meetings. “As we make good choices in our buildings, I think it’s important yet again to remind our community to make good choices in terms of following public health guidelines. I want to acknowledge and thank the people out in our community that are doing the right things.”

Irving said planning for the next school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic is difficult and stressful for everyone.

“There is not a person involved who isn’t making the best possible decisions for our students and our staff,” Irving said. “But we also know that there won’t be a decision made upon where everyone is going to agree.”

“This work is likely the most difficult challenge that any of us in education have ever — or will ever — face,” she said.

District surveys of parents and staff found that a majority support students and teachers returning to their physical schools or using a hybrid, as long as adequate safety measures are implemented. About 15% of parents responded that they would prefer school to be online.

The district encourages parents and students who want online-only schooling to consider the Education Imagine Academy. It serve kindergartners through seniors.

The virtual students would still be eligible to compete in high school athletics, Irving said. More information on the virtual school academy is available online at www.usd259.org/eiacademy.

Planning for a hybrid model will focus on alternating days, which had the most support in a district survey of parents and staff. Irving said that plan may call for half of the students attending in-person on Monday and Tuesday while the other half go Thursday and Friday. Wednesday would be used to clean the building and other purposes, such as helping students who need additional in-person learning.