Senate approves bill to put local school districts in control of school reopening decisions

(St. Paul) — The Minnesota Senate today approved a bipartisan bill to put local school districts, not the Governor, in control of school reopening decisions. The legislation, Senate File 2, authorizes local public schools to make their own decisions regarding how they conduct student instruction during a pandemic or any other emergency. 

“Elected local school boards know their districts and their students best,” said Senator Julia Coleman (R-Chanhassen). “Over the past year, we have seen the disastrous effect distance learning has had on many of our students. The mental health challenges and learning loss during the pandemic have been devastating. A top-down one-size-fits-all approach has not worked. Local school district leaders in consultation with their students, teachers, parents, and health officials should be allowed to do what is best for their districts.”

The bill says the governor may not use peacetime emergency powers to issue any order or to authorize the commissioner of education to alter school schedules, curtail school activities, or order schools closed. The Governor may “advise and consult with school leaders regarding any action needed for emergency management purposes.”

Governor Walz’s executive orders closing schools have been among his most questioned and controversial since the outbreak began.

There is conclusive evidence, including research from the CDC, that schools pose minimal risk in spreading the coronavirus. A fall Reuters report that studied 191 countries also found no clear link between school reopenings and coronavirus surges. In addition, Axios looked at several studies and found schools are not Covid hotspots, and the Atlantic Magazine wrote that kids are not superspreadersand and that it’s time to reopen schools. The New York Times reported on evidence that schools, especially elementary schools, are not “stoking community transmission.”

There is also agreement about the impact distance learning is having on students:

  • The American Association of Pediatrics has said, “The AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with the goal of having students physically present in school. The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020.” 
  • UNICEF has warned of a ‘lost generation’ and found school closures are ineffective. “Even with the promise of a vaccine on the horizon, a new report by UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, warned that “the future of an entire generation is at risk,” with the threat to children increasing. Studies cited in the report showed “no consistent association between school reopening status and COVID-19 infection rates.