Monday night, the Wichita School Board voted unanimously to move elementary schools to full remote learning by the end of the week due to rising COVID-19 numbers in the community. Secondary schools will remain in remote learning.
Students will go to class on Tuesday and pick up laptops for full remote learning. Families will also receive more information on Tuesday. USD 259 Superintendent Dr. Alicia Thompson said the goal is to begin the transition on Wednesday and be fully remote by Friday.
Dr. Thompson said COVID-19 is having a devastating impact on Wichita schools and central offices The superintendent said 22 USD 259 schools have 20% or more staff members quarantined. There are currently 334 active COVID-19 cases among staff members and 1,137 staff members quarantined (16% of entire workforce).
Nutrition services will also continue and be offered to students. The district will provide students participating in remote learning with meals. There will be 12 locations available for families to pick up the five breakfast and five lunch meals. The district said five locations will hand out meals between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The remaining locations will hand out meals 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Families will need to put their orders in at least a week in advance.
Dr. Thompson said winter athletics and activities will follow the Kansas State High School Activities Association guidelines which allow for practices to start on Dec. 1 with a moratorium from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3.
USD 259 will remain in full remote learning until further notice. The board will meet again on Jan. 11 to review data and re-evaluate the learning model.