KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After an outcry from some parents, the Shawnee Mission School District on Friday said that it would allow families of elementary students to choose a different learning option for the second semester.
Superintendent Mike Fulton sent an email to parents on Friday, saying that the district had heard “a lot of questions and concerns” after a special board meeting on Wednesday, where Fulton announced that elementary school students would be transitioning to in-person learning.
Notably, Fulton said at the meeting that parents would now have the option to change their initial choice of learning for their students, but that their decision would be in effect for the rest of the school year. At the meeting, Fulton said it was necessary for the district to determine appropriate staffing levels at elementary schools.
On Friday, however, Fulton said that the district had “made some adjustments” based on feedback from parents. Families of elementary students, which includes pre-kindergarten through sixth grade, will now be allowed to select a different learning option for the second semester.
The district also has extended the deadline for parents to decide on a learning mode to 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14. The district had initially said the deadline would be Sunday.
Those parents who already submitted their forms in the last two days can resubmit their selection based on the changes, Fulton said in the email.
The district also released a video and a list of frequently asked questions for parents.
Also this week, the district’s Board of Education voted to allow fall sports and activities to resume for high school students.
