School’s out for the year
Governor orders Missouri schools to remain closed for the remainder of the academic year
Local school encourages the community.
Photo by Caden Swearingen.
April 15, 2020
In a COVID-19 briefing, Governor Mike Parson announced that all Missouri public and charter school buildings will remain closed through the remainder of the academic year.
This recommendation was made to Governor Parson by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and several school superintendents from rural and urban areas across the state.
“Continuing our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, I am ordering all public and charter schools to remain closed through the remainder of this academic year, with the exception of nutrition and child care outlined in our Stay Home Missouri Order,” Governor Parson said.
School services are expected to continue through the last day of school in each school district as pre-established by the academic calendar approved by their local board of education. These continued services include alternative educational opportunities as well as providing much-needed meals to students who count on them.
DESE will issue additional guidance to Missouri school leaders in the near future. In conjunction with the Governor’s Office, DESE is continuing efforts to help local school leaders by removing barriers and waiving the necessary state statutes and regulations.
Additional K-12 information and guidance can be found at dese.mo.gov/COVID19.
COVID-19 has had serious impacts on anticipated economic growth, and the state is now expecting significant revenue declines.
“The impact of COVID-19 has already been hard felt in our economy. More people are staying home, business operations have been limited, many people have lost their jobs, and state revenues are down,” Governor Parson said. “This has had a serious impact on our anticipated economic growth, so we’ve had to take a hard look at our budget and make some very difficult decisions.”
To ensure a balanced state budget and the necessary funds to combat COVID-19 going forward, Governor Parson is planning to restrict $180 million in spending. More may have to be restricted in the future depending on how extreme the economic impacts of COVID-19 become.
These restrictions include reduced funding for several state departments including the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, Department of Transportation, Office of Administration, Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Economic Development, among others.
On a positive note, today U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS), announced that Missouri will receive $208 million to help elementary and secondary schools respond to coronavirus-related needs. The funding will be used to help schools address immediate needs of students and teachers, improve the use of education technology, support distance education, and make up for lost learning time. The Education Department notified each state of their funding allocation today to help them plan how to best utilize funds to meet local needs. Blunt urged the department to quickly release funds.
“The coronavirus pandemic is straining education budgets as schools have had to shift to distance learning to keep kids safe,” said Blunt. “This funding will help schools cover technology and other distance learning costs to create the best possible learning environment for students during these unprecedented times. As a former high school history teacher, one of my priorities in responding to this virus is limiting the impact it has on a child’s education and long-term development. I’ll keep working closely with the Education Department to speed up the release of this critical funding for school districts, teachers, and students.”
As the chairman of the subcommittee that funds the Education Department, Blunt worked to secure this funding in the recently-enacted CARES Act. Last week, Blunt commended the Education Department for allocating $206 million in funding for Missouri colleges, universities, and trade schools to make emergency cash grants to students and offset other general expenses related to the coronavirus.
Cassville's School Board meets 6 p.m. Thursday night via Zoom. Local implications of the long-term school closure will be discussed and decisions announced after that time.
In a COVID-19 briefing, Governor Mike Parson announced that all Missouri public and charter school buildings will remain closed through the remainder of the academic year.
This recommendation was made to Governor Parson by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and several school superintendents from rural and urban areas across the state.
“Continuing our efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, I am ordering all public and charter schools to remain closed through the remainder of this academic year, with the exception of nutrition and child care outlined in our Stay Home Missouri Order,” Governor Parson said.
School services are expected to continue through the last day of school in each school district as pre-established by the academic calendar approved by their local board of education. These continued services include alternative educational opportunities as well as providing much-needed meals to students who count on them.
DESE will issue additional guidance to Missouri school leaders in the near future. In conjunction with the Governor’s Office, DESE is continuing efforts to help local school leaders by removing barriers and waiving the necessary state statutes and regulations.
Additional K-12 information and guidance can be found at dese.mo.gov/COVID19.
COVID-19 has had serious impacts on anticipated economic growth, and the state is now expecting significant revenue declines.
“The impact of COVID-19 has already been hard felt in our economy. More people are staying home, business operations have been limited, many people have lost their jobs, and state revenues are down,” Governor Parson said. “This has had a serious impact on our anticipated economic growth, so we’ve had to take a hard look at our budget and make some very difficult decisions.”
To ensure a balanced state budget and the necessary funds to combat COVID-19 going forward, Governor Parson is planning to restrict $180 million in spending. More may have to be restricted in the future depending on how extreme the economic impacts of COVID-19 become.
These restrictions include reduced funding for several state departments including the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, Department of Transportation, Office of Administration, Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Economic Development, among others.
On a positive note, today U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS), announced that Missouri will receive $208 million to help elementary and secondary schools respond to coronavirus-related needs. The funding will be used to help schools address immediate needs of students and teachers, improve the use of education technology, support distance education, and make up for lost learning time. The Education Department notified each state of their funding allocation today to help them plan how to best utilize funds to meet local needs. Blunt urged the department to quickly release funds.
“The coronavirus pandemic is straining education budgets as schools have had to shift to distance learning to keep kids safe,” said Blunt. “This funding will help schools cover technology and other distance learning costs to create the best possible learning environment for students during these unprecedented times. As a former high school history teacher, one of my priorities in responding to this virus is limiting the impact it has on a child’s education and long-term development. I’ll keep working closely with the Education Department to speed up the release of this critical funding for school districts, teachers, and students.”
As the chairman of the subcommittee that funds the Education Department, Blunt worked to secure this funding in the recently-enacted CARES Act. Last week, Blunt commended the Education Department for allocating $206 million in funding for Missouri colleges, universities, and trade schools to make emergency cash grants to students and offset other general expenses related to the coronavirus.
Cassville's School Board meets 6 p.m. Thursday night via Zoom. Local implications of the long-term school closure will be discussed and decisions announced after that time.
