On Thursday, July 9th, Governor Mike Parson announced that the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services released a document outlining school reopening guidance for the 2020-2021 school year.

“We are confident that if schools implement this guidance, they CAN safely reopen this fall. The Department of Health and Senior Services and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released a document today that answers frequently asked questions about K-12 school reopening health-related guidance,” said Governor Parson.

*Kearney School District will release its plan for reopening schools on or before July 17th*

These guidelines provide additional clarity and consistency for Missouri school leaders and public health officials as they make decisions about school reopening strategies at the local level. There are no statewide health mandates related to K-12 school reopening being issued at this time, and it is important to note that local school boards and local jurisdictions have the authority to implement more stringent or less restrictive preventative measures than those listed in this document.

“These implications are being considered along with the continued risk of COVID-19. Therefore, school leaders and local health officials are working thoughtfully to reopen our schools – knowing that school operations must take place differently to better protect public health and combat the spread of the virus,” Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven said.

In Kearney, parents and teachers are eager but cautious about reopening our schools. In June, the district released the results of parent and staff surveys on the subject of opening schools for the 2020-21 school year. The survey found that 78.9% of families were comfortable with some or no concerns, while only 7.9% were not at all comfortable. In a follow up question, 19.5% of families said they want to consider virtual learning provided by the district, and 1.6% said they will be homeschooling their students. The majority of families (78.9%) stated they intend to send students to in-person classes.

Top concerns sited in this survey included: challenges with social distancing, parents’ ability to help students learn virtually, and availability of disinfecting materials.

The FAQs addressed in the document released today center around the proactive strategies that K-12 school leaders can implement to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and best protect their students, staff members and communities, including recommended protocols regarding screening, physical distancing and face coverings.

The Kearney School District will release its plan for reopening schools on or before July 17.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this report