Schools looking at additional costs to reopen during pandemic

When schools reopen in the fall, it could cost a lot more as they work to put additional precautions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EVEN IF SCHOOLS DOOPEN - IT'S GOING TOCOST A LOT MORE - ASTHEY WORK TO PUTPRECAUTIONS IN PLACE.HERE'S 41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER SARAH PLAKEWITH A CLOSER LOOK ATTHE PRICE TO REOPEN.School districts, big and small,are staring down some toughnumbers right now..

COVID-19 preparations touch everyaspect of learning..I think one of the biggestbudget increases we're goingto see is either having to hiremore staff or with substitutecosts..The Center School Districtexpects to spend 2 to 300-thousand dollars on extrastaffers..

And maybe thatmuch more on figuring outtransportation.The challenge we have is, wedon't know how long this isgoing to last and can't justhiresomebody for one two threemonths.The School SuperintendentsAssociation estimates theaverage school district willspend 1.8 million in covidcosts alone to reopen.KCPS will far surpass that..They are spending over 2million dollars on cleaning,PPE, social distancing and airquality alone..And another 3 million on newcurriculum to support in schooland at-home learning.Before the pandemic, notevery student had a take-home learning device..

Nowthat's not a choice..

KCPSexpects to spend 3.7 milliondollars to get to a full 1-to-1capacity.We want to be prepared postreturn should this happenagain, how do we make surekids walk out the door with adevice that they can use tocontinue learning instead ofhaving interrupted learning likewe had in the spring.When kids are spread out -one teacher can't handle it allalone.KCPS could spend at least amillion dollars on extrateaching staff.If 25 of them elect to be inclass, how do we make surewe can spread those childrenout.

Might mean I need a paraprofessional or extra staff tohelp me, break kids intodifferent roomsWith sales tax and staterevenues down, districts aredepending on reserve funds,grants, and CARES Actmoney.Sa