Today Senate Republicans passed a resolution to allow school districts to decide the best option for their students this fall. A bill to provide $25 million in grants to reopen schools was stopped by Senate Democrats refusal to support bringing the bill to the floor. 

“Governor Walz has executed a lot of power over the past few months regarding the COVID virus,” said Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria). “While some of these choices have been in line with what Minnesotans have needed, many others have been grand overactions that have cost our communities dearly. Now, with school posed to start in the fall, Governor Walz seems poised to take executive action regarding the opening of schools. Rather than make an overarching rule, why not empower our local authorities. We know our local leaders know their infection rates and local geography best, and we know our school officials understand the difference between operating large, small, and medium-sized. Rather than make a choice to close for them, why wouldn’t we empower them to be creative and get our kids back to learning?”

 The resolution states that, for the purposes of emergency powers during the COVID pandemic, the Governor cannot make unilateral decisions to open or close schools. School size, transportation needs, special education needs, and technology access will all be different in each district, and this resolution empowers each community to decide what will work best for them this fall. 

Recent studies have argued the benefit of reopening schools safely this fall is important for the overall well-being of our 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.” 

Parents have weighed in on the issue as well. Nine out of ten parents surveyed by Education Trust reporting that they were worried about their child falling behind due to COVID-related closures. The Minnesota Department of Education’s survey found 64% of parents want students back in schools this fall.