Olathe Board of Education mulls gating criteria change

On Thursday, the Olathe Board of Education will choose a gating criteria they feel best fits the district.

MOVE TO HYBRIDLEARNING.THE POSSIBILITY OFRETURNING TO TCLASSROOM HAS ATEACHERS' UNION INJOHNSON COUNTYWORRIED.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER JORDAN BETTSEXPLAINS THE UNION'SBIGGEST CONCERNGOING FORWARD.Leigh Anne Rogers, President ofOlathe National EducationAssociationSI think there is a lot ofcommunity pressure right nowto bring students back 100percent.ON THURSDAY, THEOLATHE BOARD OFEDUCATION WILL CHOOSEA GATING CRITERIA THEYFEEL BEST FITS THEDISTRICT.THEY CURRENTLY FOLLOWJOHNSON COUNTYDEPARTMENT OFHEALTH"S GUIDELINES.under that criteria, schools arein the red zone.meaning middle and highschoolers are learning athome.BUT, THE BOARD COULDGO IN A DIFFERENTDIRECTION, SHIFTINGEVERYTHING.Leigh Anne Rogers, President ofOlathe National EducationAssociationSIf our school board wereto utilize a different gatingcriteria that would allow for ahybrid model or bring studenback in personthat wouldreally change how things lookfor the district.IT"S THE HYBRIDMODEL causing concern forteachers.Leigh Anne Rogers, President ofOlathe National EducationAssociationSThe work load was verstressful.

Being able to meetthe needs of students both ithe classroom and at homewas literally doubleplanninganother concern?getting the virus.Leigh Anne Rogers, President ofOlathe National EducationAssociationSOnce we bring backstudents into the school, wecan"t ensure that therewon"t be cases of COVIDbetween students or betweenstaff and students.

It justcan"t be 100 percesafe.SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTYLIKE SHAWNEE MISSIONFOLLOW THE HEALTHDEPARTMENTS CRITERIABUT BLUE VALLEY createdits own.Dr. Sanmi Areola, Director ofJohnson County Department ofHealth and EnvironmentSWe have been making itvery clear to people thatthat continuum of remotelearning, hybrid and in personlearning, the risk increases asyou go.TEACHERS IN THE OLATHESAY WHAT THEY WANT ISSIMPLECONSISTENCY.Leigh Anne Rogers, President ofOlathe National EducationAssociationSWe absolutely know thatkids learn best in-person andin the classroom with theirteacher.

We want to get therebut we have to do it when it issafe.BUT, SOME MIDDLE ANDHIGH SCHOOL TEACHERSdo not SEE TEACHING INPERSON as a POSSIBILITYJUST YET.Leigh Anne Rogers, President ofOlathe National EducationAssociationSWe have got to worktogether as a community toget the spread down so thatwe can bring our students andteachers back together in asafe environ