Senator Osmek votes to let schools decide the best option for fall, allocate $25 million for costs of safe reopening

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. 

“The best place for students to learn is in a school setting,” said Senator David Osmek (R-Mound). “We all know this. Unfortunately, the current pandemic has undermined how we can safely and responsibly do this. While Governor Walz believes that an overarching decision will serve Minnesotans best, I do not agree with him on this issue. Contrary to his belief, there is not a single answer for kids going back to school this fall. There are going to be multiple answers to this, and each community should be empowered to think creatively and to make those choices on their own.” 

 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.

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