A message from Rep. Melissa Wintrow

• Election Dates and Process (State Affairs)

• Non-Cognizable Funds Procedures and Limits (JFAC)

• Emergency Declaration Duration and Power (State Affairs)

• Constitutional Amendment for Special Legislative Sessions (State Affairs)

• Limitations on Liability for Schools, Businesses, etc., during Health Crises (Judiciary and Rules)

• Statutory Flexibility for Public Schools to Deal with Possible Financial Holdbacks (Education)

COVID-19 Is Highly Contagious
Asymptomatic transfer is very common and very dangerous.  Up to a ⅓ of people (especially younger folks) can carry the virus and have no symptoms at all; folks who are older can carry the virus without symptoms and you could be spreading the virus at that time, which is why following CDC guidelines is essential. 
 
There is no “Debate” – Masks Reduce Risk of Infections
Masks work at reducing the risk of infection!   No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Wearing a mask is a simple way to protect yourself and others.

Stay away from places that don’t use masks; those folks are most infectious.
 
Some people say it’s dangerous to wear a mask, but the ONLY people who have to worry about this are people who are PROFOUNDLY compromised and who normally without a mask have trouble breathing. Or those people who are PROFOUNDLY impacted by heart or lung disease.  THIS IS RARE! And then, a doctor would tell you not to wear a mask. So, everyone, except with rare exception, should wear a mask to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. 
 
Who Should Wear a Mask?
Kids over 2 and everyone else; 4 and 5 year olds are understanding what it means, and kids can have fun participating. 
 
How Can We Return Kids to In-person Education Safely?

• Maximize distance between desks
• Disinfections of equipment and furniture
• Ventilating air as much as possible
• Masks and face coverings used

Children have the highest risk of being asymptotic and carrying the virus w/o knowing it.
 
High school and middle school kids are most likely to transmit the virus, so if that group is most likely to transmit it, this age group is most important to use masks and physically distance.  This is going to be tough!
 
We have to really consider how to keep the teachers and principals safe; they have a much higher risk of getting sick. Changing our behaviors presents a formidable problem. It’s complicated and “nearly impossible to create a truly safe environment….all we can do is reduce the risk to a degree,” said Dr. Nemerson.
 
Risks drop with a mask use, physical distancing, good hygiene, but it’s "not completely safe," he said. 

A Personal Note to Parents and Teachers
I have been contacted by parents and teachers about their questions and concerns with returning to school in the fall. I think it's safe to say that we all WANT schools to reopen in the fall due to the many social, emotional and physical safety benefits for our kids and to help parents get back to work and put food on the table. 

That being said, I think parents and teachers need to find support in making these decisions.  I encourage parents and teachers to reach out to their local school boards and school district superintendents. As with most things in Idaho, public education is under local control and the decisions to reopen schools will be in the jurisdiction of local school boards and school districts.

Be sure to check out the State Board of Education Website where they have created "Idaho’s Back to School Framework [that] provides consideration, recommendations, and best practices to ensure a safe and successful 2020-2021 school year."  The Boise School District has issued its plan for reopening for Fall 2020, which includes a fully online option. The enrollment period for the fully online option is July 13-31. 

Teachers may want to check with their IEA representatives and OSHA or Human Resource Departments to understand how these reopening plans impact you. Understandably, teachers with medical conditions in particular, including pregnancy, are concerned for their health and the security of their jobs. Reach out to these resources to have more knowledge about your standing so you can make the best decisions for you and your family. 

One thing I am watching is any proposed legislation that comes to my committees to limit liability in the schools or businesses. As I have said to the Governor on our legislative calls, if you or the legislature are going to push for reopening and getting folks to work and into school, we need to do everything in our power to reduce risk and increase safety which may include mask mandates, increased testing capacity, providing access to free PPE supplies, and a plan if safety is increasingly threatened.  We need to protect our teachers and school staff and support their decisions and their jobs if they choose not to return to work if some of those basic risks aren't mitigated.