Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, schools in Kansas City, Mo., closed after Mayor Quinton Lucas issued a stay-at-home order for all of Kansas City, suggesting all people stay at home unless they need to partake in essential activities. The order went into effect March 24, and an order for the entire state of Missouri began April 7.

“It was a pretty immediate change,” said vice principal Jessica Hoffecker. “So, considering the little notice we have had, our teachers have done an incredible job putting things together, and our students have done a wonderful job jumping in and trying to figure it out and using their resources very well.”

The North Kansas City School District turned to e-learning, using students’ one-to-one technology to learn via software such as Canvas.

“You all have devices, and there is the potential to do some classwork,” said NKCSD student services director Janelle Porter. “That’s not really something we’ve done in quite that way. If you’re gone for a week, we could do things where you’re checking in with your teacher and getting on Canvas and you’re doing some work that way. But what does it look like if you’re gone for a month? So then, we would have to completely rethink how we would do that.”

Through multiple days of e-learning, students have had mixed reviews.

“I don’t mind it actually,” said junior Matt Brines. “I enjoy it because I’m not at school for a full day. I can sleep in, wake up, get all of my work done and have the rest of the day free.”

Spring sports were also postponed. Brines, who played baseball, missed being on the diamond and said he’s been a little upset about it.

“I love playing baseball. I’ve been playing since I was 3, any chance that I have to play baseball, and it gets taken away, it sucks,” said Brines.

After postponements of school and baseball, Brines said he accepted it was out of his control.

“It’s out of my control. It’s out of the coach’s control. It’s even out of the school district’s control,” said Brines. “It’s the government that’s making that rule. So, I can’t control it. So, I’m at this point where I’m not going to really waste my time and energy worrying about it much.”

The district was set to return to school on April 27.