Sate Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley disagrees with the Governor’s statewide mask mandate. Matt Doyle has the story.
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As many students are returning to the classroom there’s a growing trend in others that are not. Brooke Thorington has more from the President of Homeschool Louisiana.
Cut 2 (31)…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley says he believes local school boards should be in control of K-12 mask policy, but “most” schools are following the Governor’s mask mandate.
Brumley says he believes that school systems and school boards should be working with local medical leaders and parents to make the decision on if masking should be mandatory.
Governor Edwards says the indoor mask mandate applies to all schools in the state, a claim Attorney General Jeff Landry disputes. Brumley says school leaders have been made aware of Edwards’ order…
Even with the new surge in cases Brumley is certain that students must get back to in-person learning this year and not return to virtual classes.
Brumley made the comments on Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster.
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As schools reopen in Louisiana there could be a decrease in attendance as more parents are choosing to home school their children, it’s been a growing trend since the pandemic began in 2020. Homeschool Louisiana President Chris Chin says the U-S Census conducted two historic surveys last year on homeschooling and the increase is significant.
Chin says another recent survey indicated the top three reasons parents choose to home school their children. First the pandemic, teaching method options to be improve learning and an opportunity to connect with your child.
Even post-pandemic Chin feels that parents will continue to homeschool their children. Chin says virtual instruction allowed parents to see how and what child is learning in school, and they didn’t approve.
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As LSU prepares to welcome students back to campus, system president William Tate released a video message today reminding students of the new COVID protocols in which unvaccinated students will undergo routine testing. Tate also informed students that COVID vaccinations will be mandatory sooner than later.
With more than 30-thousand students scheduled to return to campus in the next few weeks, Tate encouraged students to get vaccinated before they return to classes.
Cut 10 (09) “…particular time.”
In the message, Tate says while he understands not everyone is happy with the COVID protocols he wants all students to be able to have a safe college experience as we assimilate to the new normal.
You can view the entire video welcome at LSU.edu
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AARP is calling on mandatory vaccinations for all nursing home staff, residents, and visitors. The latest AARP dashboard indicates staff vaccination rates at Louisiana nursing homes are at 44-percent, well below the advised benchmark of 75-percent. AARP Louisiana Associate Director of Advocacy Andrew Muhl
While vaccination rates have increased in the past month, Muhl says only 7-percent of nursing home facilities in Louisiana have 75-percent or more of staff fully vaccinated. Muhl worries it places residents at severe risk as COVID continues to mutate.
Early in the pandemic, the high rate of COVID deaths in nursing homes across the country was alarming. Muhl says it is imperative facilities must incorporate changes now to avoid a repeat.
Cut 14 (11) “…across the board.”
81-percent of nursing home residents in Louisiana are fully vaccinated.