USD 333 dealing with shutdown of schools

Like so many aspects of life in a world dealing with the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, education in Kansas has been interrupted.
Governor Laura Kelly, on Tuesday, closed all Kansas' public and private K-12 schools for the rest of the spring semester, moving teaching online throughout the state in an attempt to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Kelly's move to close the schools had the support of Education Commissioner Randy Watson and groups representing school boards and school administrators.
Unified School District 333 superintendent of schools Quentin Breese, in response to the governor's order to shut down schools for the remainder of the semester, delivered this message:

Dear USD 333 Families and Community:
As many of you are aware, the Governor of Kansas delivered an address this afternoon (Tuesday, March 17th) declaring a closure of schools and to cease in-person instruction for the 2019-2020 school year and move to a Continuous Learning (CL) platform to educate our students. The Continuous Learning (CL) will aim to build a bridge back to our world-class learning for Kansas kids the rest of this school year.
We don’t have all the answers yet, but we want you to know that we are dedicated to continue to provide a supportive, loving, educational opportunity for our students. As we continue to work through KSDE and KDHE requirements and regulations, we want you to know that we are committed to be there for our students, staff, families, and community.
Difficult times, such as this, provide a unique opportunity for our community to come together and unite. Through this process it will be necessary to support one another in both the community and schools. Like Commissioner Watson mentioned, this is a defining moment and how we choose to respond will be monumental. When we left our buildings for Spring Break, none of us were anticipating this change in how we will deliver instruction the rest of this year.
We are blessed to have an incredible and dedicated staff armed with the talents and abilities necessary to embrace this challenge. Through whatever opportunities that come their way, our staff bands together to provide encouragement and support. We are committed to offering a variety of opportunities for our students to be prepared for their next step in life.
Thank you for your continued support, understanding, and patience as we move forward. We will keep you informed as we learn more and develop plans for Continuous Learning (CL) in USD 333 the rest of the 2019-2020 school year.
Amber Lambertz said her daughters, Norah, a second grader, and Rowan, a kindergartner, were crushed when they heard the news that they wouldn't be returning to school.
“They don't get to see their teachers and their friends. Lots of tears,” Lambertz said.
Lambertz, a Farm Bureau Financial Services agent, and her husband, Chuck, both have full-time jobs.
Chuck is a clinical social worker with his own practice in Concordia, Fresh Perspectives Counseling and Consultation Services, LLC.
Amber said that she was overwhelmed when it was announced that schools would be closed for the remainder of the semester.
“Trying to figure out all of the logistics,” Amber said.
Amber said that her family is fortunate to have her sister, Aren Sorensen, who helps out with the children.
Sorensen works at the Farm Bureau office when the children are in school.
“She feels like her place is there (home), so I can stay here (work),” Amber said.
Brandt Hutchinson, a counselor at the Concordia Middle School, is a father, educator and high school baseball coach dealing with different aspects of the school shutdown.
Hutchinson has three sons, Hobbs, sixth grade; Henry, second grade; and Hershel, kindergarten. His wife, Ashley, works full time as the marketing director and loan officer at Citizens National Bank.
“I am lucky because I still get paid,” Hutchinson said of staying home from school while it is closed, “There are people who are going to have to stay home and worry about employment.
Hutchinson said his boys had a mixed reaction when told they wouldn't be returning to school this spring.
“They enjoy school. They are lucky they have a dad who can stay home and still have each other,” Hutchinson said.
As an educator, Hutchinson said there is a silver lining to this in the fact that it is happening in the final quarter of the school year because students are already missing instructional time because of end-of -the-year activities.
“If you are going to miss a quarter of education, as an educator, you would pick the fourth quarter because there is so much going on,” Hutchinson said.
With schools closed, spring sports are in limbo.
The Concordia baseball team had about two weeks of practice prior to the shutdown.
The Panthers have seven returning starters, including five that were All-North Central Kansas League selections and one all-state pick.
'We had some lofty goals,” Hutchinson said, “It would have been a fun year. It would have been a special year. You feel bad for the kids because they worked hard.”
Hutchinson is fortunate in the fact that he had just one senior on the team this season in Jacob Williams.