By WIBW TV
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Wamego School District is quarantining kids in school, in modified classrooms.
Director of Instructional Services and Assistant Superintendent Scott Meitler said the modified rooms give students the same access they would remotely, in the classroom.
“We actually have a separate room for them that they can come, still get assignments, if we can get it set up where they can zoom into their teacher’s classroom we do that as well,” he said. “It’s a separate room, we have the safety measures in place, they’re 6 feet apart, as long as they’re not positive (for COVID-19) then they can keep coming to school each day like that.”
Students arrive at school later and leave earlier than other students through a different door. Desks are set at least six feet apart with barriers between them. They installed an air purifier in the room and students will use their own bathroom.
“All of our quarantine students at the high school are in one classroom and it doesn’t matter the grade and they each have their own laptop and teachers are pushing out work,” said Meitler. “Essentially like they would at home except at school in this classroom. They can zoom in and be in the instruction with the teacher.”
A new state law this year allows school districts no more than 40 hours of remote learning to students for state funding purposes. Meitler said the modified classrooms do not count towards those hours.