The State Board of Education on Wednesday rejected Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order to delay the start of school until Sept. 9. The decision on when to start school is now up to local school districts and Kelly is recommending they start later because of the record surge of COVID-19 cases that Kansas is currently experiencing.
The board voted 5-5 on the Kelly’s proposed executive order, which essentially killed the measure because it required a majority vote on the 10-member board. Under a new state law, Governor Kelly was required to get permission from the State Board of Education to issue an executive order to close or delay schools.
Uniontown USD 235 is still receiving legal guidance on Executive Order 20-59 which is on all students and staff wearing masks, etc. Lawyers representing the different entities (Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas State Department of Education, Kansas Association of School Boards, Governor's Office) do not agree upon whether the Executive Order can be modified or changed.
Until we receive clear guidance on this issue it puts our school district in a very difficult position. We hope to learn more information in the next few days.
It is the administrative team's intention to have a plan for our board of education to review by next Wednesday or Thursday. We will be meeting with our Reopen Committee soon to ask for input.
I will continue to update all of you as new information becomes available.