BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — The clock is ticking for families with students in the Blue Springs School District.
"We have reached a point where our task forces and board of education are confident in presenting two educational options for your student to pursue this fall," Blue Springs School District Assistant Superintendent Dr. Bob Jerome wrote in a Facebook post announcing the district's plan for in-person and distance learning to start the 2020-21 academic year.
The district is asking parents to choose between sending their children back to school or distance learning by July 17. The school year is slated to begin Aug. 24.
If parents choose in-person learning, they can switch to at-home schooling at anytime, but students won't be able to return to physical classrooms until at least January for families choosing the distance-learning option.
"Families must commit to in person or Blue Springs Distance learning by Friday, July 17th," Jerome wrote.
Several Blue Springs parents said they plan to send their kids back to the classroom.
"For us, we feel comfortable putting our children back in school," Samantha Kuykendall, a parent in the Blue Springs district, said. "My children are all healthy, so we don't have that to worry about. We both work, so that makes a huge decision."
Of course, depending on how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic progresses, some parents wonder how long the in-person option will last.
"It is a given that we will sign up for in-school learning and then it's going to change again," another Blue Springs parent. Heather Joyce, said. "That is the only constant that I think we can count on is change right now. I don't want to limit our opportunities. I mean, logistically how are they going to keep our kids safe?"
In an email sent to families on Tuesday, the Blue Springs district said masks will be required when moving around the school, but wearing masks in the classroom will be optional unless it is required by local health and government orders.
Daily wellness checks and prohibiting the use of playground equipment during recess are among other rules likely to be in place when classes resume in the fall.
Parents said at the end of the day, they just want whats best for their kids.
"We are not teachers, we are moms and dads and grandparents and aunts and uncles," Joyce said. "All kinds of different dynamics and it's not a one size fits all problem."
Here are some other health and safety guidelines, the Blue Springs district announced regardless of local health orders that are in place when school resumes:
- Hand-washing and hygiene will be enforced.
- Hand sanitizer will be available and its use encouraged.
- Daily wellness checks based on self-reporting and teacher observation.
- Unless mandated by the city, county or state, face masks will be optional in classrooms when socially distanced, but required when moving through the school during arrival, dismissal, between classes, on bathroom breaks or at other times in the hallway.
- Large gatherings (i.e. assemblies, walkathons, grandparents/special persons day, etc.) will be canceled.
- No visitors or lunch guests will be allowed.
- Recess will take place for elementary students, but playground equipment might be off limits.
- Masks will be required on school buses.
