SMSD Board Meeting Recap

SMSD held a board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 29 to discuss the reopening of elementary schools in the district.

Superintendent Mike Fulton started the meeting by going over the guidelines provided by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE), specifically focusing on COVID-19 based learning modes — hybrid and remote. 

Fulton reiterated that the SMSD is still in the ‘Red Zone,’ meaning that COVID-19 tests within the district have been over 15% positive in the previous 14 days. He has reached out to the JCDHE to determine if any protocols could be identified that would enable SMSD to have in-person learning through a hybrid approach at the secondary level while the county is in the red gating zone. 

“I’m sure our conversations will continue as we dig deeper into the possibility of on-site learning for secondary students,” Fulton said. 

As for elementary school, the current plan is to begin the process of opening on Oct. 5. Pre-K through second grade will be hybrid while grades three through six stay remote. On Oct. 12, the district’s plan is to have all elementary grades transition to hybrid, and the district hopes to have all elementary students back in school full time by Oct. 26.

There is still no update regarding middle and high schools possibly going back to in-person, whether through a hybrid or full-time model, but Fulton made it clear the district is still working on it. They are still trying to find a way to give students an in-person experience while keeping everyone safe.