Dangerous Changes to K-12 COVID-19 Guidance Issued by State
MNEA advises school districts to follow the science-based CDC recommendations.
Gov. Mike Parson, in conjunction with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, issued modifications to Missouri’s K-12 school reopening and operating guidance. Missouri NEA Pres. Phil Murray issued the following statement: “As educators, student safety is our top priority. It should also be the top priority of our state’s leaders. The dangerous choice to allow people exposed to COVID-19 to remain in a school building jeopardizes children, educators, and families. The likely irreparable harm to the health of students, our colleagues, and families compels us to speak out.
"Educators are frustrated that as health experts across the state sound the alarm of runaway COVID-19 cases filling hospitals, Gov. Parson and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) would choose now to adopt this dangerous guidance.
"Permitting persons exposed to COVID-19 to remain in contact with students and educators is indefensible. It will put more strain on the nurses and doctors in our local hospitals working to save lives. Now is the time to focus on implementing more aggressive mitigation strategies such as increased ventilation, reduced class size to enable social distancing, virtual education, higher quality PPE, and hiring additional staff to aid in sanitization. We call on local school boards and superintendents to stand with our students and educators and reject this guidance.”