OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) - Omaha Public Schools will be shifting to a full remote status for the first quarter of the school year.
All students and staff will be fully remote once school begins on August 18, a few days later than originally planned.
The first quarter ends on October 16.
OPS had planned to operate under a "family 3/2" plan which would have had roughly 50 percent of students in school at a given time.
"Since our shift to remote learning in March, we have closely monitored the health conditions of our local and state community. We shared that our plans may have to transition quickly. We believe it is best for the health and safety of our students, staff and families to transition to the 100% Remote Learning Instructional Model at this time," Omaha Public Schools wrote on their website.
All athletics and activities will be suspended during the fully remote period.
"During our time in the 100% Remote Learning Instructional Model, all activities and athletics will be suspended," Omaha Public Schools wrote on their website. "We understand the important role extra-curricular activities play in a student’s school experience. This suspension is for the health and safety of everyone."
All school-sponsored travel groups are suspended through December 2020.
"We will continue to work with the Douglas County Health Department and other state and local officials to regularly evaluate the health conditions in our community," the district said on its website.
Gov. Pete Ricketts' office released a statement saying, "The Governor believes that schools should reopen this fall, but that plans for how learning should occur in the fall should be made by local school boards in conjunction with local health officials. Long-term use of remote learning will have detrimental effects on the social well-being and academic achievement of students our schools serve."
