COVID-19 Information for Parents
COVID-19 INFORMATION
Lansing School District continues to monitor the developments surrounding COVID-19 virus closely. It is extremely important to know the most accurate and timely information about this health concern.
The most up to date information can be found at The CDC Website, The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, or on our USD 469 Website. The Commissioner of Education issued guidance on March 12, 2020 regarding the latest updates for Kansas school districts.
FAMILIES TRAVELING FOR SPRING BREAK
While the CDC and Leavenworth County Health Department continue to reinforce that the threat of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Leavenworth County is low, we know many families have questions regarding Spring Break travel. We encourage you to review the latest travel notices and recommendations from the CDC. Lansing School District will carefully follow any and all recommendations from national, state, and local health officials. It is also important to mention that Kansas Department of Health and Environment recommends that anyone returning from travel to known “hot spots” for the virus and who have had no known direct exposure to someone with the virus should check in with their local public health department, monitor their health, and maintain social distancing. It is also important to note that neither the Kansas State Department of Education nor schools have the authority to quarantine anyone who isn’t exhibiting signs of illness.
SCHOOL PLANS AFTER SPRING BREAK
The CDC recommendations below about “Keeping the School Safe” was the guidance our administrative team and school nurses utilized to develop district plans upon return from spring break:
Early Childhood |
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K-5 |
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6-12, New Beginnings, SSD, & LINCS |
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District Wide |
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HOW DO WE DECIDE WHEN TO CANCEL SCHOOL/SCHOOL ACTIVITIES?
Lansing School District continues to monitor the situation closely on a daily basis. We also work closely with the local health department on recommendations specific for our area. These recommendations can change rapidly for areas that have new confirmed cases. When there are cases in our local community, we will follow the recommendation of the local health department on what the local schools should do to help mitigate the spread of the disease. At the time of this update, there has been no recommendation to practice the social distancing that has taken place in large arenas for our school sponsored events. We will continue to take our guidance from the local and state health officials on schools.
LARGE GROUP GATHERINGS CANCELED
On Friday, March 13th, the Leavenworth County Health Department has recommended canceling large group events and gatherings. They have defined a "large group event" as "250 or more people for any business, professional, social, cultural, entertainment, or other special event where people are not separated by physical space of at least four feet (which is slightly longer than an average arm's length in all directions)."
Because of this, the Lansing USD 469 is postponing all spring activities until March 22, 2020. Updated information will be provided after spring break once we have more information.
PLANS IF LANSING SCHOOLS HAVE TO CLOSE FOR 2 WEEKS OR MORE
Lansing Schools will continue to take our guidance from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Leavenworth County Health Department as it pertains to schools being open. If we receive notice that we have to close schools for an extended period of time, the following chart outlines our plans for the continuation of learning. This is an assumption that we will close schools for students, but will be able to have adults in the buildings.
Early Childhood |
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K-5 |
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6-12, New Beginnings, SSD, & LINCS |
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As a part of continued online access for families, I am happy to announce Charter Communications has offered free internet for 60 days. Information can be found at www.usd469.net
IF WE ARE CLOSED WILL WE HAVE TO MAKE UP THAT TIME?
- Make up the missed school days by June 30, 2020.
- Submit a proposal to KSDE for the delivery of e-learning to be counted as seat time. (The Commissioner of Education mentioned that the requirements are stringent enough that school districts would not be able to meet this requirement.)
- Submit a petition to the Kansas State Board of Education and the Kansas Commissioner of Education to waive the legally required minimum number of hours and days schools must be in session.
If we end up in this situation, the school board will determine which of these options we will choose as a school district.
FOOD SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES DURING SHUTDOWN
We are currently looking at possibilities to provide meals in locations of need. There are stringent requirements about being able to offer these meals in our community. We are working with KSDE and the USDA to explore our options.
Even while on break, Lansing Schools will continue to carefully monitor the spread of the coronavirus. Kansas State Department of Education is hosting daily webinars Monday-Friday on this subject to keep school leaders informed of current progress. Should additional communication be necessary, messages would be shared via email, text message and/or website post.