LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The Lawrence school district has decided to start its school year after Labor Day with at least six weeks of online learning because of the threat of the coronavirus pandemic.
School board members voted Monday to begin with fully remote learning and consider later in the year whether to adopt a hybrid model that would allow for students to spend some school days in classrooms and others at home with remote learning, the Lawrence Journal-World reported.
Board member Carole Cadue-Blackwood said she did not feel comfortable starting with anything other than remote learning because of the public health threat of COVID-19.
The Kansas State Board of Education last week rejected making Gov. Laura Kelly’s recent order to begin the school year after Labor Day a statewide mandate, leaving the decision up to local school boards.
Three of Kansas’ largest school districts voted last week not to resume their classes until after the holiday.
The Wichita district’s Board of Education delayed school until after Labor Day, and also approved two online alternatives for families who are leery of returning their students to school too soon.
The Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission districts in Johnson County also announced last week their decisions to postpone the school year.
