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Alabama
Montgomery: Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday extended a statewide mask order into March as the state continues to face high numbers of coronavirus cases. The order, which has been in place since July, requires face masks in public when interacting within 6 feet with people from another household. The extension pushes the order until 5 p.m. March 5. The Republican governor said wearing a mask is one thing people can do to help slow the spread of the virus. She thanked the people of the state for taking precautions and being willing to take the vaccine. “We’ll get through this thing together,” Ivey said. More than 6,370 people have died from COVID-19 in Alabama, and about 430,000 have tested positive since the pandemic began. State case numbers hit record levels in the wake of winter holidays, but the state has seen recent improvements
Samuel Hanson: Salt Lake City schools a victim of legislative extortion
School board was wrong to vote to return secondary schools to in-person learning.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Larry Madden, Interim Superintendent of the Salt Lake City School District, details the district s restart plans for the 2020-21 school year at a news conference in Salt Lake City on Thursday, July 30, 2020. At rear is Melissa Ford, president of the Salt Lake City School District Board of Education, and Nate Salazar, board vice president.
By Samuel Hanson | Special to The Tribune
| Jan. 22, 2021, 3:45 p.m.
In what I am about to say, I mean as no disrespect to the other six members of the Salt Lake City School Board. Several are dear friends and I know they have a difficult job.
KUER
Students and parents rallied outside East High School last month, urging the Salt Lake City School District to reopen schools.
Following a more than six hour meeting Tuesday night, the Salt Lake City School Board voted to bring middle and high school students back to the classroom. The plan, though, does not yet have a specific date set and is contingent on when teachers and school staff are able to receive two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The district had been the only one in the state to remain fully online through the 2020-2021 school year, but has faced mounting pressure from parents and state officials to reopen schools.
SALT LAKE CITY Middle and high school students in Salt Lake City could be back in classrooms by Feb. 8 under a proposal the interim superintendent of the Salt Lake City School District announced Friday evening.
Interim Superintendent Larry Madden will propose an in-person learning option for secondary students to the district school board on Jan. 5. The announcement comes after mounting pressure by parents including a group of parents that filed a lawsuit and state lawmakers.
In November, the school board approved a plan to offer an in-person learning option for elementary school students, with students returning to school in phases starting in January 2021. The district plans to continue to offer an online option.