Sept. 29, 2020

By Katy Bergen
Pronouns: She, her, hers (What’s This?)
Executive Director of Public Relations
Lee’s Summit R-7 School District

As the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District continues an unprecedented school year, COVID-19 has prompted the district to embrace flexibility, innovation and resourcefulness as it continues the mission of serving students in the midst of a global pandemic.

Since August, district leaders along with metro superintendents and local public health officials have evaluated public health data on a weekly basis to determine when moving to a hybrid model of instruction for grades 4-12 poses less risk for the LSR7 school community.

This week, local public health leaders and the Mid-America Regional Council updated the gating criteria districts are recommended to use in determining when to deliver virtual, hybrid or full-time in-person instruction.

At this time, the district has determined that this updated guidance supports a transition to a hybrid learning model for grades 4-12.

LSR7 will transition to a hybrid learning model for grades 4-12 starting on Monday, Oct. 5, 2020. Pre-K-3, as well as special programs and other groups who have received in-person services since Sept. 8, will continue full-time in-person instruction. R-7 Online Academy students will continue to participate in online learning at home five-days-a-week.

“Public health guidance, research and data, as well as expertise from local medical and mental health experts, has and will continue to guide our decision-making,” Superintendent Dr. David Buck said. “While we are thrilled to be welcoming our students to our buildings once again, all of the instructional models we designed this year emphasize the health and safety protocols the CDC and public health leaders say make our learning environments safer.”

“We encourage all in our school community to do their part to wear masks, social distance when possible, wash their hands and stay home when they are feeling sick, and we thank our dedicated staff for continuing to provide for kids in these unique times.”

  Hybrid Learning:

• Students with the last names A-K will be in group A. Group A will attend school in-person on Mondays and Tuesdays, and engage in teacher-planned lessons and independent assignments virtually on Thursdays and Fridays. This means the first day of in-person learning for Group A is Monday, Oct. 5.
• Students with the last names L-Z will be in group B. Group B will attend school in-person on Thursdays and Fridays and engage in teacher-planned lessons and independent assignments virtually on Mondays and Tuesdays. This means the first day of in-person learning for Group B is Thursday, Oct. 8.
• On Wednesdays, all hybrid students will learn virtually and have the opportunity to engage with their teachers through group check-ins, office hours and individual meetings. Staff will also use Wednesdays as planning and collaboration time, and buildings will receive extra-cleaning and sanitization on Wednesdays.
• Hybrid students at the same address will be grouped by the last name of the oldest child.  
• The district will plan on having 7th and 9th grade transition days on Friday, Oct. 2.  Group A will be from 7:30-10:00 a.m. and Group B would be from 12:00-2:30 p.m. Building leaders will communicate additional information.

More resources:

• Hybrid Learning Weekly Schedule for more information about what a hybrid schedule looks like for students
• Hybrid Learning FAQS – General information about the hybrid transition for grades 4-12.
• Updated Kansas City Regional Gating Criteria
• Memo about new Guiding Criteria

Additional information about instruction, learning expectations and logistics for a hybrid learning day will be shared with the LSR7 school community this week.