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Friday, July 03, 2020

Harris Helps Lead Effort on School Re-opening Guidelines

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) issued the following statement after becoming an original co-sponsor of House Resolution 1026, which urges that local jurisdictions be empowered to make the decisions on re-opening schools:

“We know that the pandemic conditions in Baltimore City, Prince George's County, or Montgomery County are far different than those in other areas of the nation, the state, or on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. In the First Congressional District today there are still dozens of zip codes that don’t even have one confirmed COVID case. Therefore, a blanket nationwide or even a statewide policy decision on re-opening our schools is a bad approach that will lead to unnecessary closures and an undue burden on parents. Some of President Trump’s leading experts on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, like Dr. Fauci and Dr. Redfield, as well as former FDA Commissioner Gottlieb, who advises Maryland on COVID reopening issues, have already confirmed that these decisions on schools re-opening should be made at the local level. This week, the American Academy of Pediatrics has also emphasized the importance of re-opening schools in the fall. Therefore, I am proud to co-sponsor this important House resolution that urges just that. Many areas of the country, including parts of Maryland, can reopen their schools safely this fall.”

The resolution’s text can be read here.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Lockdown Larry is not going to like this.

Anonymous said...

So much for small government LOL. Andy Im pretty sure the states and counties can figure this out without you grandstanding on the us tax payers' dime

Anonymous said...

I would not open anything until a bill is passed saying you can't sue for liability of covid. Liability insurance is going up and being cancelled. Rules will continue to get more strict. Schools already have major lawsuits pending for stupid stuff. If people even had a clue.

Anonymous said...

American academy of pediatrics says schools should reopen. Children do not transfer virus to adults.

Anonymous said...

So far top doctors (9 out of 10) that have studied and been practicing epidemic health care all their lives have warned parents, Do Not Send Your Children back to school if you don't want them sick.

Home school them and they will be well, and know the truth on subjects instead of Liberal views.

Anonymous said...

Harris is a dentist, not an epidemiologist. The Republicans in congress like to have him in these kinds of discussions over healthcare just because he has Doctor in his name, and people are too lazy to Google him and realize he's just a dentist with no idea what he's talking about.

Anonymous said...

3:27...you are close!!?? He is an anesthesiologist which requires much medical knowledge.

Paladin said...

Dear readers,

My personal prediction is that schools will open in the fall in this order:

All students receiving substantial supports in special education who cannot be effectively taught via distance learning will be first to resume classes, as school systems have federal mandates (IDEA)

Students in K-3 will follow as distance learning is not well suited to them

After a period of time, students in 4-5 will be added. Distance learning will continue until middle and HS are finally added last as they are more computer literate, both educationally and socially.

The major issue here is bussing students (keeping them 6 feet apart) as school systems do not have adequate resources to do so, along with the federal mandates attached to IDEA making moderate and severe special education students all but impossible to instruct via distance learning. I would estimate that these measures would be implemented along a gradual timeline with all students back in schools by January 2021 or shortly thereafter.

Kind regards,

Paladin

Anonymous said...

100%

Anonymous said...

Here is the link to AAP - http://services.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-planning-considerations-return-to-in-person-education-in-schools/

Anonymous said...

No 3:27, he is not a dentist. Here is the direct Wikipedia link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Harris_(politician)