A Mississippi lawmaker is calling on the state board of education to mandate that all schools delay reopening due to the high rate of coronavirus cases.
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Mississippi School Districts are required to submit their plans for reopening to school boards by July 31. Many of them are planning to reopen in the coming days and weeks. The state has had at least 5,000 news cases of the coronavirus this week. And Democratic Representative Tom Miles of Forest says he’s hearing from parents and teachers who are scared for children, themselves and loved ones.
“The concerns I hear, ‘what if my kid goes to school and they get sick at school. You’re hearing from teachers, ‘you know I’ve got health problems or I have a child that has health problem or my mom or dad that I live with has health problems,’” said Miles
Miles says he’s requesting the state board of education delay the start of school and have all districts reopen in September. Joann Mickens with the Mississippi chapter of Parent’s for Public Schools says opinions about reopening vary among parents.
“You have some who have to take into account they have to work and what will happen with their children if they are home during the day and then you have some parents who are looking at homeschooling,” said Mickens.
East Flora Elementary School, Madison Co.
Charlotte Seals is superintendent of Madison County Schools. The county is one of 23 under stricter guidelines by the governor with nearly 1,900 cases. Seals says she was planning to start school August 6, but now it’s being delayed until September 3.
“There’s an increase in number of cases in a county, there’s a greater odds you’re going to have more cases in the school which then leads to possibly we are just starting school and literally within days, we’re running the risk of having to shut the school down, or to send groups of students home,” said Seals.
Governor Tate Reeves says he supports students returning to school. He says districts have had months to come up with innovative ways for students to return safely.
The state department of education provided this statement regarding the start date for Mississippi schools:
"The State Board of Education is sensitive to the fact that local school districts have to contend with tough decisions about how to operate school safely this year,” said Dr. Jason Dean, SBE chair. “Local school boards are the only ones with the legal authority to set the date for starting school. There is no authority given to the State Board of Education to direct school opening plans.”
Based on the March 14, 2020 State of Emergency Proclamation, the governor has the power to temporarily suspend or modify laws, rules and policies to cope with the COVID-19 outbreak. The governor also has the power to declare school start dates by Executive Order.
