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Shawnee Mission School Nurses Strained By Coronavirus Workload

By Steve Kraske,

Chris Young, Liam Mays

Published November 12, 2020 at 2:36 PM CST

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Lee's Summit held summer school in person last month, but Superintendent David Buck has told the school board to prepare for a virtual start to the school year. On Friday, the health department released that recommendation for districts in Eastern Jackson County not already following the Kansas City Health Department's guidance for delaying the first day of school. — While students are required to wear masks inside their school buildings, there is still risks of contracting and spreading the virus while out in their communities.

District's medical professionals dealing with monitoring for symptoms and contact tracing on top of regular duties.

In the midst of the coronavirus, the Shawnee Mission, Kansas school district has nurses who are working 20-hour days and others assigned to full-time contact tracing. Some parents have proven to be difficult, refusing to release the names of students who had outside contact with their child.

Shelby Rebeck, health services director, Shawnee Mission School District

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Up To Date Talk Show Podcast Coronavirus Shawnee Mission Shawnee Mission School District Health

Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

See stories by Steve Kraske

Chris Young

Chris Young is an Assistant Producer for KCUR’s Up To Date. Contact him at chrisy@kcur.org.

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Liam Mays

See stories by Liam Mays

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