As if school administrators didn’t have enough whiplash from the back-to-school COVID-19-related guidance at the state level just over the past 10 days, another level of potential adjustments came from Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt on Thursday.
Schmidt said districts and counties can opt out of the mask mandate offered by Governor Laura Kelly last week. The governor’s plan as announced last week was to delay school until after Labor day and to mandate masks, social distancing and temperature checks through two separate executive orders — but Schmidt’s guidance Thursday followed the State Board of Education’s tie vote meaning the delay could not move forward.
Schmidt’s perspective came as districts were still scrambling to handle the overall back-to-school plan. USD 252 Southern Lyon County Superintendent Mike Argabright says his district’s calendar may have some slight adjustments from the original Aug. 19 plan. Two possibilities have already been mentioned, Aug. 20 and Aug. 25, but other options may come after a parent survey currently underway.
At USD 386 Madison-Virgil, Superintendent Stu Moeckel says the board is looking at the original Aug. 13 start date and may consider delaying. He says the district is “pretty far along” with its reopening plan.
Moeckel says Greenwood County may well opt out of Kelly’s mask mandate, and if that happens, the district would follow the county’s guidance.
Schmidt says the law enacted last month that gave the State Board of Education the final say on school closures also let counties opt out of other health orders from the governor. He also says the state constitution lets districts opt out if they choose.
Right now, USD 253 Emporia has not discussed opting in or out of the mask mandate. Its next meeting is Wednesday at 7 pm. USD 417 Morris County has a special meeting Friday, while USD 243 Lebo-Waverly has a special meeting Monday. A special meeting is coming Tuesday for USD 252.
Next week’s Morning Show will have time dedicated to school planning updates for several area districts. Argabright joins us at 8:20 am Monday, while USD 251 Superintendent Bob Blair has the 8:20 am slot Tuesday. USD 417 Superintendent Aron Dody joins us at 8:20 am Wednesday and USD 243 Superintendent Corey Reece is on at 8:20 am Thursday.
