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KS Gov to delay school reopening

By Brian Hagen

07/15/2020

KS Governor Laura Kelly

(KAIR)--Citing the state’s increasing number of coronavirus cases, specifically after what she said was the scaling-back of the state’s reopening plan, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is issuing two related executive orders Monday, with one delaying the opening of Kansas schools until after Labor Day.

Kelly announced her plan Wednesday during a Statehouse conference. Both executive orders follow the Kansas State Board of Education’s approval of guidelines intended for the safe reopening next month of K-12 schools despite the coronavirus pandemic. “Because the Board of Education’s health guidelines are not enforced, I will also issue an executive order to make those common sense mitigation strategies, that are in the board’s plan, mandatory, because we have already seen what happens when guidelines are voluntary,” Kelly said, explaining that enforcement will include the wearing of masks, social distancing, proper hygiene, and daily temperature checks, “regardless of the county the school is in.”

Kelly said extending the reopening of schools by three weeks will allow better safety preparation due to the virus.

The State Board of Education voted unanimously for the reopening guidelines Wednesday.

Approval of the guidelines comes after a weekslong spike that has pushed the state's reported coronavirus cases past 20,000.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Comments

Harold (07/15/2020 6:31 PM)

Kelly had all summer to get a plan. Why is a three week delay going to fix things? Plus all counties arent the same. You cant treat our local counties the same as Kansas City and Wichita.