By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It's tough on both educators and kids that school is not going to be what it once was, according to Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Mike Berblinger. "The state of Kansas has really been talking about school redesign," Berblinger said. "This was pretty much forced redesign. We had a spring break a little bit ahead of everybody else. I think it created a lot of heartbreak because our teachers and students parted on that Friday not knowing that they weren't going to be back together again."
Social distancing isn't easy when you've let kids into your heart as well as your classroom.
"We were having students come by yesterday and pick up some of their materials and those kind of things," Berblinger said. "The teachers were out seeing them from a distance and you just left on that Friday before spring break thinking you'd see them in a week. It's been really painful for everyone. There's been loss suffered emotionally."
The school buildings may be full of workers, but they're all staying separated as best they can.
"We've done a lot of meetings by Zoom," Berblinger said. "If you drive down 30th, you see a lot of cars at Union Valley, but those people are in their rooms gathering the things for the students and preparing to launch the lessons that will be heading out next Monday."
Berblinger said while walking the halls, he's already hearing teachers that are videotaping ahead so they have those lessons ready to go.