SHAWNEE, Kan. – A giant change is coming for college students this fall in one of many metro’s greatest faculty districts.

Shawnee Mission won’t offer a distance studying possibility, so college students might want to attend in individual or switch elsewhere.

The information is welcomed by dad and mom who’ve struggled to study in individual that the distant faculty won’t even be on the desk within the fall. However nobody can predict what the pandemic will appear to be in August, and that is why different households are pissed off having to vary faculties to remain protected.

Distance studying are two phrases that nobody was prepared for at the moment final yr.

“It was form of a shock, however you recognize I’ve two youngsters and my immune system is weakened, I understood and supported this determination a lot,” mentioned Beth Koon, a mom from the Shawnee Mission faculty district. .

Contemplating her household’s well being points, Koon determined the most effective factor was to pursue distance studying at Shawnee Mission faculties this yr.

“It was simply a very simple determination for us to determine to remain dwelling with the youngsters and keep protected,” Koon mentioned.

Koon mentioned his youngsters excel at on-line courses. So she was shocked to see a letter from SMSD on Tuesday, saying that distance studying won’t be accessible subsequent yr.

“To imagine that the pandemic is over, there is no such thing as a unfold and that adults or households like mine with immunocompromised relations, who should make these choices to isolate themselves, to remain protected, to get that carpet out of us, I believed it was very alarming, ”Koon mentioned.

Whereas the district is aware of that some youngsters have thrived in distance studying, others have struggled and desires to offer the most effective in-person expertise doable. In a letter to folks, the district wrote, “Within the absence of a pandemic, there is no such thing as a authorized option to proceed providing the gap studying possibility.”

“We should be to some extent within the pandemic. We won’t vaccinate youngsters, however the adjustments that the governor had the ability to make and that the Kansas Division of Training had the ability to make can have expired and there’s no indication that they are going to be renewed. David mentioned. Smith, a spokesperson for SMSD.

Up to now, 72% of all faculty workers have not less than one COVID-19 vaccine and can obtain the second quickly. SMSD believes that with continued precautions this could be a protected faculty yr.

“We speak to the Johnson County Division of Well being and Atmosphere frequently and what they’ve advised us is to count on all of these mitigating components that might maintain us protected to proceed to be. wanted within the fall. mentioned and what we count on. That we’ll nonetheless have to put on masks, nonetheless want social distancing, all of these issues, ”Smith mentioned.

Kansas districts can nonetheless run a digital academy, as a separate program from the standard faculty, however Shawnee Mission chooses to not pursue this selection.

Neighboring Blue Valley faculties shared:

“As a part of the registration and registration course of, we supplied a digital possibility. Primarily based on present registrations, there seems to be a development towards the standard in-person studying expertise. “

Olathe Colleges advised FOX4:

“We’re nonetheless studying from KSDE, however we’ll have extra info to share in April. This digital setting can be accessible to some chosen college students and households who want this studying ambiance. “

There are additionally digital faculties statewide that could be an possibility for households who aren’t able to ship their youngsters again to class subsequent yr.

The Missouri Division of Elementary and Secondary Training lately advised FOX4 that there are at present no rules in place to assist distance or blended studying after this faculty yr, however predicted there can be nonetheless digital studying choices for youngsters who haven’t been vaccinated or who could also be in good well being. circumstances that make them extra susceptible to illness.