Some Wichita schools closed due to COVID-19, district says

WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Wichita Public Schools confirms that South High School will be closed Friday due to COVID-related concerns.

District spokesperson Susan Arensman said in an email that the closure is due to staff shortages. Athletic events for the school will continue as scheduled.

The USD 259 website shows that Beech Elementary and LEVY Special Education Center are closed Thursday and Friday, and Bryant Opportunity Academy is closed Friday through Tuesday.

Three of the district's elementary schools and three area catholic elementary schools closed on Tuesday. Five other districts in the KAKE viewing area reported that they would be closed Thursday and Friday.

Three Wichita elementary schools and three Catholic Diocese of Wichita elementary schools will be closed Tuesday as COVID-19 cases surge among staff and students.

Susan Arensman with USD 259 confirmed Monday that Cessna, Spaght and Linwood elementary schools won't be open Jan. 18 due to staff shortages. All schools in the district were already closed Monday in observance of MLK Day.

The percentage of COVID cases and quarantines are up multitudes over the last week as the virus continues to wreak havoc on Wichita Public Schools. Wichita teachers are describing the grim classroom conditions because of COVID-19, but a new report from the district now shows just how bad things really are.

"We use people to provide services to people. And COVID has created a lot of havoc on both sides," said WPS Director of Safety Terri Moses.

According to Friday's report, 301 staff members have tested positive for COVID in the last seven days, along with more than 1,100 students, which is on top of about 4,500 students and nearly 650 staff in quarantine.

Two large Kansas school districts shuttered as COVID cases rise

Moses said COVID closures will be treated like snow days. If things get even worse and the district runs out of extra days, they'll tack them on to the end of the year.

In addition to the three USD 259 school that will be closed, three Wichita Catholic Schools have also canceled classes Tuesday. Catholic elementary schools Christ the King, St. Francis of Assisi and Magdalen. Both St. Francis and Magdalen will also be closed Wednesday.

According to Janet Eaton the Catholic Diocese of Wichita Superintendent, the deciding factor to close the schools was lack of staff.