KCPS Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell. PHOTO/Elizabeth Orosco

Kansas City Public Schools has canceled classes through April 3, 2020, due to COVID-19.

The following email was sent to parents, guardians, and staff, Monday, March 16, 2020, from KCPS Superintendent Mark Bedell:

“First of all, thank you. Thank you for your flexibility, your patience and your grace as we’ve navigated the fluid communications regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and responses. Your partnership is valuable in how we approach these decisions collaboratively.

Kansas City Public Schools administration and our Board of Directors have been working together to ensure we have a clear plan that will drive our response to this emergency over the next few weeks. We have been collaborating with our neighboring school districts, the City of Kansas City, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Kansas City Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

With this, we have made the collaborative decision to close all KCPS schools after Spring Break and through April 3, 2020. This decision was made with utmost care and aligns with guidelines from local, state and federal public health authorities.

It is important to us that we maintain some of our services for our students and families during this closure.  Our webpage dedicated to COVID-19 information will have details about food distribution and learning packets for our students: https://www.kcpublicschools.org/coronavirus. This information will be updated throughout this week.  We are committed, within our abilities and resources, to caring for our students nutritionally and academically. 

Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to evolve. We will keep you updated regarding KCPS plans moving forward. Stay tuned for ongoing communications via email, phone, and social media platforms. We will maintain our communication with you throughout this situation

Thank you for being partners with us as we respond to this unprecedented situation.  We will continue to make decisions that prioritize safety and health – with all of you in mind.”

Updates on KCPS closure and other school closures across Kansas City will be released as information is made available.