Reopen our schools
We are fortunate that the Elk River Rogers School District was able to get waivers from the Departments of Health and Education to allow Middle School and High School students to return to in-person learning starting next week. This accomplishment is a testament to all the hard work and leadership of the ISD 728 school board, administrators, teachers, and parents.
But it shouldn’t have to be that difficult to get kids back in schools, now that we know how the virus works and have solid science that indicates it is safe for students and teachers to return to in-person learning. Indeed, just this week, President Biden’s CDC Director, Rochelle Walensky said, "Vaccination of teachers is not a prerequisite for the safe reopening of schools."
According to new guidance issued by the CDC this week, “CDC officials emphasized that in-person learning has not been identified as a substantial driver of coronavirus spread in U.S. communities, and that transmission among students is now considered relatively rare.”
Unfortunately, many districts remain unnecessarily restricted from making the decision to return to in-person learning due to previous Executive Orders and strict MDH/MDE guidance that limit reopening based on county case numbers, even though county outbreaks may be tied to long-term care facilities or workplaces that have nothing to do with schools. School districts should not have to go through a labor-intensive process to get waivers to do what is in the best interests of their students and communities. School boards, like legislators, are duly elected officials who are accountable to their voters and they should be able to exercise their authority.
That is why yesterday I joined my colleagues in calling for an “urgency” to pass a bill that removed the Governor’s ability in the “emergency powers” provisions of Chapter 12 to delegate this authority on school scheduling to the Commissioner of Education. Instead, school districts would again have authority to make scheduling decisions. They could consult with the Governor and MDE for advice, but would still be able to make their own decisions for their districts.
Unfortunately, our effort to declare an “urgency” was blocked by the Majority, but we hope the bill will still be able to go through the committee process. Unfortunately, that will mean months of delay in allowing school districts to make their own decisions for their students. I will continue to advocate for local control on this important decision.
|
