Tweet
Sedgwick County ditches Gov. Kelly order requiring masks in schools to fight COVID
Sedgwick County commissioners on Wednesday overruled an order by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly mandating protective face masks in schools to control the spread of the coronavirus.
The action lets schools within Sedgwick County allow students and teachers to wear clear plastic face shields as face coverings, instead of the cloth or surgical paper masks the governor’s order requires, officials said.
The action also revokes the governor’s requirement for fever checks to enter school buildings and a directive that students and educators disinfect their hands on an hourly basis.
Sedgwick County commissioners on Wednesday overruled an order by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly mandating protective face masks in schools to control the spread of the coronavirus.
The action lets schools within Sedgwick County allow students and teachers to wear clear plastic face shields as face coverings, instead of the cloth or surgical paper masks the governor’s order requires, officials said.
The action also revokes the governor’s requirement for fever checks to enter school buildings and a directive that students and educators disinfect their hands on an hourly basis.
Overturning Kelly’s order passed on a 4-1 vote with Commissioner Michael O’Donnell dissenting.
In recent weeks, Commissioner Lacey Cruse has carried the fire for teachers complaining that it’s difficult to teach young children to properly form words if they can’t see the teacher’s lips moving. On Wednesday, she said clarifying rules on clear face shields was her only reason for voting to overrule Kelly’s school order.
She did express a related concern, however, that if infections do spread in schools, the data should not be used to justify extending an order by Minns limiting bars and nightclubs to 50 percent occupancy and an 11 p.m. curfew on places selling alcohol by the drink.
“I don’t want for our bars and nightclubs to be bearing the brunt of this when the positive test rise, let’s say hypothetically, could be potentially a different age group than would visit a bar and nightclub,” she said.
In recent weeks, Commissioner Lacey Cruse has carried the fire for teachers complaining that it’s difficult to teach young children to properly form words if they can’t see the teacher’s lips moving. On Wednesday, she said clarifying rules on clear face shields was her only reason for voting to overrule Kelly’s school order.
She did express a related concern, however, that if infections do spread in schools, the data should not be used to justify extending an order by Minns limiting bars and nightclubs to 50 percent occupancy and an 11 p.m. curfew on places selling alcohol by the drink.
“I don’t want for our bars and nightclubs to be bearing the brunt of this when the positive test rise, let’s say hypothetically, could be potentially a different age group than would visit a bar and nightclub,” she said.
A statement from a Wichita school district spokeswoman said USD 259 will review the county’s actions, but for now will continue requiring masks, daily temperature checks and frequent hand sanitization.
Thank God for the governor, mayor, and USD 259 leadership during this crisis. I would suspect there's an IQ/educational disparity between the county commissioners and the last 3 groups mentioned.
Comment