Last week, Governor Kelly announced her plans to issue Executive Order 20-58, which would have required all school districts in Kansas to begin school on September 9. On Wednesday, the Kansas State Board of Education rejected that order giving the authority to establish a school start date to the local school districts.
Because we have identified the need for additional time for teachers to prepare for the upcoming school year, USD 460 is developing a new calendar with a new start date for 2020-21. Our original start date was August 13, but that will be pushed back allowing teachers additional time to prepare for changes in our operations and in how we approach teaching and learning.
Today and tomorrow, we will present a new calendar to our staff and provide time for feedback and adjustments as needed. On Monday, we plan to present the new calendar to our Board of Education for approval. On Tuesday of next week, we will share that calendar with everyone in the school community. We will also share the draft of our Back to School Plan, which will detail our current thinking around safety and mitigation measures as we begin school.
These past five months have required so much patience, flexibility, and grace on the part of everyone. The decisions we are making now will most certainly be met with a range of opinions and perspectives. Our commitment is to provide the safest and very best learning environment possible, knowing that information is constantly changing and adjustments will need to be made.
Thank you for all of your support and understanding as we navigate the challenges of today. As you receive information on the school calendar and our Back to School Plan next week, we are committed to answering all of your questions and concerns. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me through phone at 620-327-4931 or email ben.proctor@usd460.org.
Ben Proctor