Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly is planning to sign an executive order Monday, delaying the start of the school year for K-12 schools until after Labor Day.
“The additional three weeks will provide schools time to work with their counties to get necessary mitigation supplies like masks, thermometers and hand sanitizers and allow superintendents additional time to make plans for what’s best for their district,” she said.
The governor made the announcement during a Wednesday news conference with Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Dr. Lee Norman and State Education Commissioner Randy Watson.
“Putting nearly half a million kids in daily large gatherings is the exact opposite of what health experts have urged us to do,” Kelly said.
Kelly says in addition, the extra time will also allow the state to monitor the infection rate and begin to get the numbers trending downward again. As of Wednesday, KDHE was averaging 347 daily cases diagnosed and 299 deaths attributed to the virus since March with 1,393 hospitalizations. The state logged its worst week-long spike in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began in the week ending July 13. It reported another 1,447 confirmed last weekend pushing the state’s total to over 20,000 cases. That’s a 7.8% increase from three days prior.
Riley County was monitoring 136 active cases Wednesday with 0 hospitalizations and four persons under investigation showing symptoms. The county said 232 individuals are listed as recovered. Over 3,500 Riley County residents have tested negative and three people have died. The county has totaled 371 cases since March 20.
Labor Day is September 7. Most area schools were scheduled to open in mid-August. USD 383 Manhattan/Ogden had been planning to open Aug. 12.
