Olathe Families,
The Olathe Public Schools is committed to providing a safe learning and working environment for students and staff. We cannot move forward without first thanking our parents, students, staff and community members for providing honest feedback and for granting us the patience and support to work through these plans.
The first day of school will be on Tuesday, September 8. On Monday, July 27, online registration will open. You will be asked to decide if your child will attend in-person or remote learning when school resumes. We will be providing you an overview of what the year will look like in this message. For a robust look at the district’s plan in its entirety, please visit www.olatheschools.org/return2020.
Following the guidance and collaboration of numerous health experts from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics, and various others, the Olathe Public Schools remains committed to doing everything we can as a district to protect the health of students and staff for a safe return to in-person instruction and learning.
Before selecting in-person or remote learning, you need to be aware that this decision will be made for an entire semester. You can change your selection at the semester break.
We encourage you to check out our Frequently Asked Questions page at www.olatheschools.org/return2020. You can also access a more detailed version of the district’s plan for the 2020-21 school year.
In-Person Learning
- Masks will be required for students and staff per the Governor’s executive order https://governor.kansas.gov/executive-order-no-20-59/. Masks are found to help prevent the spread of disease. Students will be required to bring masks to school and wear them throughout the instructional day. Please use this time to find a mask that your child is comfortable wearing. If you have trouble getting a mask, please talk with your principal.
- We will supply hand sanitizer and will have a small number of disposable masks available.
- In the classroom, social distancing measures will occur as best as possible.
- Until further notice, there will be no field trips, no out of metro travel for students and staff and there will be restrictions on time outside of classrooms.
- Transitions for students during the day will be reduced. Elementary and middle school students will have reduced time in the hallway.
- We will have an increased cleaning schedule using a CDC-recommended solution.
- We will be limiting sharing of supplies and items as much as possible.
- There will be additional guidance provided regarding band, orchestra, physical education and other classes where masks and social distancing prove difficult.
- Parent and visitor access to the building will be limited to the office area only.
- Restrictions are subject to change as the year progresses and are subject to guidance from local and state health departments. Should conditions worsen and full in-person learning not be an option, students who opt for in-person may be transitioned to a hybrid model where they may come into school a few days a week and be home doing remote learning for the other days. Additionally, if a greater school shut down were to be ordered by state or local officials, all in-person learning students would be transitioned to remote learning.
Lunch
- Elementary and middle school students will stay with stable groups and have assigned seats. Building specific plans will be utilized and communicated at the high school level.
- Each building will determine appropriate procedures to reflect their unique layout.
- No lunch guests will be allowed.
Transportation
- All students, bus drivers and bus monitors will be required to wear a mask.
- The bus will fill from the back and unload from the front to limit students walking past one another.
- Students from the same household will sit together.
COVID-19 Notification
- If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, a general notification will go to the parents of a school. This notification will not include identifying information about the individual who tests positive.
- If your child has been exposed, you will be contacted individually with further instructions.
- Contact tracing will occur by the JCDHE in partnership with the district.
- The district will work closely with JCDHE should cases arise in school and to determine next steps. JCDHE will work closely with the district Health Services on a case by case basis to advise on course of action related to school closure.
Remote Learning
Parents may elect to have their child participate in remote learning. This selection will take place during the online registration process.
- Students will receive daily direct instruction plus assignments.
- Daily attendance will be taken.
- Daily assignments will be given, turned in and graded.
- Students must attend and engage in regular contact with teachers while completing tasks.
- As stated before, you can change your selection at the semester break.
- Students will be given a technology device and families in need of internet access will be able to check out a mobile “hot spot” for at-home internet access free of charge.
Again, we thank you for your patience and flexibility. These decisions are not easy. Whether in-person or remote, the Olathe Public Schools family is strong and resilient. This pandemic has been a real-life lesson in grit. We hope that those lessons in moving forward with a positive mind have been echoed at home. Make no mistake, we will get through this together.
Please look for additional information at www.olatheschools.org/return2020. On Monday, July 27, you will receive information about the online registration process.
Respectfully,
John Allison, Superintendent
