MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Columbus school district Superintendent Brian Smith has spent the week hauling furniture out of classrooms to make more space for social distancing as students prepare to return next week after a five-month COVID-19 imposed break.

"It is almost like you are preparing for war," Smith said. "And there is so much that can go wrong and so many unknowns."

His 950-student district is among several dozen mostly rural Kansas school systems to resume classes next week after a handful tested the waters this week.

Gov. Laura Kelly sought to delay the reopening of the state's K-12 sch...