Kansas City Metro COVID School Shut Down Coming Soon?!?!

Like it or not, pandemic numbers are reaching record highs and greatest impact confronts local schools.

In this post we focus on scary absenteeism, staffing shortages and a Winter warning . . . Real talk. Schools are likely going to shut down over COVID, this is just a preview.

Check the TKC collection . . .

Local school district short 300 teachers, mechanics driving buses due to COVID-19

Officials with the North Kansas City School District say COVID-19 hit the district hard Friday.According to Superintendent Daniel Clemens, the district is short 300 teachers due to COVID-19.Not only that, but officials were only able to employ 100 substitutes to replace those teachers.Similar shortages are being seen across the area, and across the nation as the omicron variant of COVID-19 fuels cause surges."I want to thank everyone who has pitched in to help keep our schools open," Clemens said in a statement on Twitter.In addition, parents reported buses to pick students up for school were running late Friday.

Shawnee Mission district latest metro district to warn families about potential closings

OVERLAND PARK, KS (KCTV) --- The Shawnee Mission School District on Friday warned parents that school closings are possible due to staffing shortages created by Covid-19. In a letter to parents, the district said it has been "able to manage challenges up to this point," but as cases increase, the district could close individual schools for a day.

Over 600 staffers out sick, Olathe is close to canceling school: "This is uncharted territory."

OLATHE, KS (KCTV) -- The Olathe School District is experience mass sickness among its staffers and is about 65 absences away from needing to cancel classes, the district's superintendent said at Thursday night's Board meeting. The district has been averaging over 500 staff absences every day.

North Kansas City missing 300 teachers Friday due to COVID-19

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - North Kansas City schools had 300 teachers absent on Friday. Superintendent Daniel Clemens posted the news on Twitter. @NKCSchools is short 300 teachers due to COVID-19 today. We were able to get 100 substitutes. COVID-19 has hit our substitutes hard as well.

Johnson County mayors review COVID protocols as cases spike, schools close

JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. - Friday morning, officials from the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment (JCDHE) met virtually with county mayors to review data on COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations.

Mayors frustrated by inconsistency on masks in Johnson County, Kansas

JOHNSON COUNTY, KS (KCTV) -- Three Johnson County cities will implement mask mandates starting next week. Prairie Village, Mission and Roeland Park in Johnson County all voted to require masks in public settings at their individual city council meetings. The ordinances, all similar to each other, require masks for everyone above the age of 5 inside public spaces.

Kansas City school districts see higher absence rates as COVID-19 cases surge

Across the Kansas City area, student absences are higher than normal as COVID-19 cases surge. KSHB 41 News reached out to multiple school districts across the area to see what their student attendance rates were after about a week of school being in session.

Hospitals raise morgue capacity concerns, schools close

MISSION, Kan. (AP) - Nursing homes are facing COVID-19 outbreak, schools are closing and hospitals in the Kansas City area are seeing so many deaths that they are raising alarms about morgue capacity. The problems come as Kansas yet again shattered its record for new confirmed and probable cases.

Developing . . .