Student enrollment in Shawnee County school districts fell this year, according to early enrollment numbers from some districts, likely the result of scores of parents opting for homeschooling, virtual school and private school options. Four of the county’s five school districts — Seaman Unified School Disrict 345, Silver Lake USD 372, Auburn-Washburn USD 437 and Topeka USD 501 — reported a combined drop of 829, or 3.38%, students this school year, according to early enrollment data. The data reflects the districts’ headcounts as of Sept. 21, the date the state uses to determine public school funding on a per pupil basis. In any case, districts have a grace period of two weeks to account for any students who are enrolled in the district but may have been temporarily absent from school, and districts will likely add a few students between now and the Oct. 4 hard cutoff.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal

Local organizations detailed how CARES funding will help small businesses stay afloat, and help parents navigate childcare during the pandemic. Commissioners Bill Riphahn, Kevin Cook and Aaron Mays heard from The Greater Topeka Partnership and Child Care Aware on how both organizations plan to disperse the CARES funding that was approved Sept. 17. Glenda Washington, senior vice president of entrepreneurial and minority business development, said the Greater Topeka Partnership has created the Small Business Continuity program. Sixty businesses impacted by COVID-19 will go through “specialized modules,” and write continuity plans to maintain “sanity as well as (their) clients” during emergencies like fires, floods or tornadoes, Washington told commissioners at Monday’s meeting, 701 N. Kansas Ave.
Source: Local News | Topeka Capital-Journal