ST. PAUL – On February 11, Minnesota House Republicans moved a bill on the House floor that would remove the Governor's ability to unilaterally keep schools closed and put those decisions in the hands of local school districts. State Representative Paul Torkelson (R-Hanska) supported the plan.
“The reason we elect school boards and hire school superintendents is because they are the experts regarding their local school district,” Torkelson said. “They should always have the authority to tackle and address problems as they arise and should be given as much local control as possible.”
The proposal ultimately failed on a party-line vote, with House Democrats voting in favor of allowing the governor to keep his school closing authority
While many schools in our area have returned full time, thousands of other students remain in part-time or full-time distance learning. Torkelson said he’s disappointed the governor continues to ignore the science and is failing to bring teachers and students safely back to the classroom in schools throughout the state.
Recently, President Biden’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director said we can safely reopen schools even before teachers are vaccinated. Torkelson fears distance learning is having tremendous negative impacts on student achievement and mental health.
“Some school boards fear the governor’s wrath if they choose to ignore his input,” Torkelson said. “It just makes sense to give the district’s the power to determine what path of action is best for its students, teachers, and community.”