ICYMI: Editorials and Statements Regarding the State Board of Education’s Vote to Reject Governor Laura Kelly’s School Delay Order
Let schools open, said Kansas education leaders – as they voted from home
The Wichita Eagle
July 22, 2020
Key Quote: “The state board had a chance to affirm Kelly’s three-week delay, which would have bought districts a little time to finalize plans, gather protective equipment and make sure learning — whether in-person or online — is as safe and effective as possible. Board members could have sent a strong and much-needed message that the coronavirus is real, that it’s unpredictable, and that it ignores geographic and district boundaries. Instead, five members trumpeted the virtues of local control, opting for what is sure to be a confusing patchwork of school policies rather than a clear, safe, singular mission.”
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Kansas Board of Education botched decision on opening schools. Will districts do better?
The Kansas City Star
July 22, 2020
Key Quote: “The Kansas Board of Education’s decision Wednesday allowing the state’s school districts to open before Sept. 9 was reckless, putting students, teachers, administrators, workers and parents at risk. It is now up to leadership in each district to act like adults and delay the start of classes until after Labor Day at the earliest.”
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EDITORIAL | The Federated Counties of Kansas
The Manhattan Mercury
July 22, 2020
Key Quote: “The trouble in this particular instance is that the state is likely to end up with a mishmash of school starting dates, and a mishmash of approaches about confronting the coronavirus. If students are in school Aug. 20 in Wamego, but out of school in Manhattan until Sept. 8, that creates a mess on a whole variety of fronts.”
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Game On for Kansas Schools statement regarding the failure of Kansas State Board of Education to support Governor Laura Kelly’s executive order to delay the start of school until after labor day
Game On for Kansas Schools
July 22, 2020
Key Quote: “The State Board should have exercised leadership and made the difficult call to protect students, teachers and staff members and to allow teachers more time to develop online learning strategies.”
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When it comes to preparing for a safe return to school, five Kansas State Board of Education members vote to support a delay making a clear point that we can’t “local control” a global pandemic
Kansas National Education Association
July 22, 2020
Key Quote: “Five of our state board members chose to lead with courage at a time when leadership is needed, and they have our sincere appreciation. Sadly, five others shrugged their shoulders and told our students and educators, ‘sorry, not our problem,’” said KNEA President Mark Farr.
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Kansas Interfaith Action statement on Kansas State Board of Education decision today
Kansas Interfaith Action
July 22, 2020
Key Quote: “This decision puts the children, families, and teachers of our state at risk… Kansas Interfaith Action strongly encourages local school boards to take the threat of COVID-19 seriously. Our children and our teachers should not be required to return to in-person schooling until it is safe to do so.”
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Five members of the SBOE vote to block school coronavirus safety delay
The Mainstream Coalition
July 22, 2020
Key Quote: “Kansas is in the middle of the highest incidence of COVID-19 infection since the pandemic began. Three more weeks would have meant more time for schools to prepare for what will be a unique and challenging school year. Only three more weeks would have given our communities a fighting chance to lessen the impact of the disease, and schools would have opened with less risk to children, families, teachers, and staff.”