Kansas governor to delay school openings until after Labor Day

In a Wednesday press conference, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced she plans to issue an executive order to delay the reopening of schools until after Labor Day, promising news for some yet a disappointment to a few others.

Kelly says the three-week delay is to account for soaring cases in Kansas, but also to give districts more time to craft new rules and stock up on PPE supplies.

“I cannot in good conscious open schools when Kansas has numerous hotspots where cases are at an all-time high and are continuing to rapidly rise,” Gov. Kelly said.

Kelly will need permission from the State Board of Education to carry out the order.

A group of teachers and advocates protested on the front steps of the capitol building ahead of Kelly’s press conference. Protesters say they want school to remain online.

The Kansas Board of Education accepted a document Wednesday that was put together by almost 1,000 Kansans consisting of educators, health professionals, and parents.

Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson says when schools do reopen, state districts need to have already built an education system where they can respond quickly. Watson says he’ll be meeting with teams of people from districts across Kansas starting Thursday, to help finalize plans for the school year.

“For each one of those districts we’ll create a plan that will be unique to those communities. What they will look like and should look like will be different based upon the needs that they have currently and in the future for what may happen with this virus,” Watson said.