OPS Schools Will Be Remote for First Quarter, All Sports & Activities Are Cancelled

Aug. 7, 2020, 4 p.m. ·

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(Credit: Omaha Public Schools)

The Omaha Public School district announced Friday students will not return to classrooms next week as planned.

Classes will now begin on August 18 with remote learning for at least the first quarter, which is scheduled to end October 23.

All activities and sports are cancelled.

The decision comes amid mounting concerns that the area's COVID-19 cases are too high to reopen safely.

Superintendent Cheryl Logan says the risks became even more obvious as staff returned to schools.

"In the few days that we have been back just with our staff, we have seen critical numbers of staff have to either quarantine or have to be tested for COVID," Logan said. "This allowed us to make a reasonable prediction about what school would be like when we added 54,000 students into that mix."

Logan says she hopes students will be able to return to school later this year. She says the district will continue working with health officials to evaluate a future reopening.

The district's original plan would have divided students into two groups based on last names: one group would attend every Monday and Tuesday, while the other attends every Thursday and Friday. The two groups would alternate Wednesdays in school.

More than 170 OPS students had signed a letter asking administration to remain closed.

"As much as we would love to go back to school and have a senior year, we care much more about everyone's safety," said Omaha North senior Samantha Petersen. "And if that's the sacrifice we have to make then so be it."

A joint statement from the Omaha Young Republicans and Nebraska High School Republicans condemned the district's decision.

"In-person classes ensure that all students, especially those at risk of falling behind in school, have a safe environment to learn," said Omaha Young Republicans chairman Peter Owens. "To support Omaha families and students, we must stand strongly against Dr. Logan's decision."

A recent survey from the Nebraska State Education Association found 59% of teachers in Douglas County support keeping schools closed and continuing distance learning until there is a COVID-19 vaccine. Teacher Katrina Jacobberger was pleased to hear about OPS' pivot to remote learning, and feels confident teachers will be able to adapt back into fully remote learning.

"I think every teacher in the country has had contingency plans for their contingency plans, at least in the back of their heads," she explained. In the spring, she recalled, instructors had to make plans on the fly. Given the longer term nature of the pandemic, many schools have offered extra training opportunities in remote teaching to instructors.

Looking forward, she wants to see more districts pivot back to remote learning until cases and transmission falls.

"It seems like we have a trend in the right direction," she said. "And now we just need the rest of the community on board so that we can protect all of the kids in our area."

Teachers have staged protests in Omaha demanding a statewide mask mandate. The Omaha City Council will consider a local mandate as soon as Tuesday. Without mask mandates, she says those in nearby schools returning to in-person classes pose a higher risk to themselves and the community.

"We still are all in the same community, we still shop at the same stores, and we have more kids than just the Omaha Public Schools students that need to be protected."