After an odd year, the Missouri School for the Deaf is looking ahead to the fall.
Like schools across the country, MSD students spent the last quarter of the year learning from home.
"It's been somewhat of a challenge of not having the students on campus because we are a school for the deaf - visual communication is very important," MSD Superintendent George Stailey wrote in an email.
MSD first sent students home in March. As the situation developed, the closure was extended to last the remainder of the year.
"We proceeded as best we could and adjusted what we were doing," Stailey said.
Video calling was one useful method for communicating with students and families. The school put together a website with online resources, such as video lessons.
But, because not all students have internet, the school made physical deliveries of learning materials as well as virtual learning.
Sometime at the end of July or beginning of August, MSD will update families on the plan for school in the fall. Currently, the hope is that students will be able to return to campus.
Because MSD is a residential facility where many students live on campus during the week and return home on weekends, incorporating social distancing is a bit different than at a non-residential school.
Stailey said some measures in the works include modifying meal times, keeping classroom sizes at eight or less students and housing students in their own rooms. The school will also be taking temperatures before students get on to the bus to come to school.
Over the past few months, Gov. Mike Parson has announced several COVID-19-related budget restrictions impacting K-12 education. Most of the state cuts to K-12 education are coming through restrictions to the foundation formula, $123,358,675 for the fiscal year that began this month.
The Missouri School for the Deaf isn't funded through the foundation formula, but that doesn't mean it won't be affected in other ways.
According to estimates provided by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education based on last year's formula, other schools in the area will get hundreds of thousands dollars less in state funding - $326,162.62 for Fulton 58 School District, $149,567.36 for North Callaway R-1 School District, $97,315.12 for New Bloomfield R-3 School District and $20,349.04 for South Callaway R-2 School District.
"The statewide budget cuts will have some impact for the Missouri School for the Deaf," Stailey said
Stailey said MSD is evaluating impacts and expects the school will continue to provide a high quality education and maintain support systems.
"I've worked in schools for the deaf for 34 years," Stailey said. "There was a budget cut, yes, but ours was not horrific."