TOPEKA—Kansas law requires the state school board’s approval for Governor Kelly's proposed order to delay the reopening of public and private elementary, middle and high schools for three weeks from mid-August until Sept. 9. It include athletics and all other extracurricular activities.
The board is scheduled to meet Wednesday morning.
Click here to contact the Kansas State Board of Education ahead of their Wednesday meeting.
During her press briefing on Monday, Kelly also issued an order requiring masks and daily temperature checks in the state’s K-12 schools.
The governor's coronavirus-inspired rules are stricter than guidelines adopted by the Republican-controlled State Board of Education.
Executive Order #20-59 does not require the state board's approval and it mandates face coverings for all students, faculty, staff, vendors, and other visitors to public or private K-12 school buildings or facilities.
Exceptions will be made for:
- Eating;
- Activities that cannot be safely conducted with a mask or other face covering;
- Children who are not students and are 5 years of age or under;
- Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering;
- Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing or communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication;
- Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work.
The Executive Order will mandate six feet social distancing, except for in-person instruction in classrooms when masks or other face coverings are worn.
The order will also require hand sanitizer in all classrooms, and that all students and faculty must sanitize their hands no less than once every hour.
Finally, all individuals entering must have their temperatures checked before entering the building.