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A26 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 21 July 2020
Guidance for masks in schools varies widely across U.S. states

By SCOTT McFETRIDGE people who are opposed.
Associated Press "It's a lose-lose situation,"
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Colpitts said. "We tried to
School districts that plan take the political piece out
to reopen classrooms in of it, but there's no way to
the fall are wrestling with make everyone happy."
whether to require teach- Iowa is among many states
ers and students to wear that have left the mask
face masks — an issue that decision to local school
has divided urban and rural officials. The state Educa-
schools and yielded widely tion Department's recom-
varying guidance. mendation against a mask
The divide has also taken requirement was based on
on political dimensions in the idea that a mandate
Iowa, among other places, would lead to a host of
where Democratic-leaning questions about what face
cities like Des Moines and coverings are acceptable,
Iowa City have required how the rules would be en-
masks to curb the spread forced and what excep-
of the coronavirus, while tions could be made.
smaller, more conservative "There are just so many
communities have left the In this July 14, 2020, file photo, amid concerns of the spread of COVID-19, Aiden Trabucco, right, things that go into it," Iowa
decision to parents. wears a mask as he raises his hand to answer a question behind Anthony Gonzales during a sum- Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Re-
"It's a volatile issue," said mer STEM camp at Wylie High School in Wylie, Texas. publican, said in explaining
Mike McGrory, superinten- Associated Press why she opposes a school
dent in Ottumwa, a dis- mask requirement. "If some-
trict in the state's southeast local officials. continuity to this. There's mandating masks for all body wears the same mask
corner with 4,700 students. Dr. Rob Murphy, an infec- nobody at the wheel." students. for seven days without ap-
"You have to be very sen- tious disease expert at Even among health ex- In France, public schools propriately washing it or
sitive and realize there are Northwestern University, perts, there are disagree- reopened briefly before a changing it out, is it actual-
lots of perspectives." said from a medical per- ments. Many districts point summer break, with no sign ly doing what it's supposed
McGrory said it would have spective, it should be an to a recommendation by of widespread virus trans- to be doing? Who's going
been easier if state health easy choice: Wear a mask the American Academy mission. Masks were only to monitor that?"
officials had issued specific in school. of Pediatrics, which urges required for upper grades, To Lily Eskelsen Garcia,
rules, but since that did not Schools should take other school officials to encour- but students stayed in the president of the National
happen, the district gave steps, too, including re- age but not require face same classroom all day. Education Association, the
weight to the state Educa- ducing class sizes, limiting coverings. The organiza- In Norway, nursery schools lack of mask requirements
tion Department's recom- contact sports and screen- tion stresses the need for reopened first, followed and other safety rules is "a
mendation against a mask ing students and teachers students to return to school by other grades. Children formula for chaos."
requirement. before they enter school and notes that coverings were put in smaller groups Claire Hanson, who teach-
Many states are calling for buildings, Murphy said. But can impede learning for that stay together all day. es 8th grade English in
teachers to wear masks, in- a first and essential step some children. Masks were not required. North Liberty, Iowa, sympa-
cluding Alaska, Connecti- should be a mask require- The Centers for Disease Iowa's largely rural West- thizes with concerns that
cut, California, Maine, Mas- ment, said Murphy, who Control and Prevention has ern Dubuque Community face coverings would be
sachusetts, New Jersey, called the current lack of recommended students School District will let stu- hard for young children but
New York, Nevada, Ohio, direction a "no plan plan." and teachers wear masks dents and their parents thinks it's still the best op-
Utah and Washington. "This is how ridiculous the whenever feasible. choose. Superintendent tion.
Some will require masks for whole situation is. It's all Other countries where Rick Colpitts has heard the "Do you understand how
students. Many other states over the place," Murphy schools have reopened arguments for face cover- resilient children are? It's
are leaving the decision to said. "There's a lack of any have stopped short of ings, but he also hears from not a mask of terror.q

Georgia Dems choose state chair to

replace Lewis on ballot

the ballot in November. assured of winning in No- president of Morehouse
The executive committee vember in the heavily Dem- College in Atlanta.
of the Democratic Party of ocratic district. Williams has served in the
Georgia voted overwhelm- The state party said it re- state Senate since 2017
ingly on Monday for Wil- ceived 131 applications and is the current chair of
liams to take Lewis' spot on for the spot. The group was state Democratic Party.
the ballot for the Atlanta- the narrowed down to five She will face Republican
area 5th Congressional Dis- finalists, who spoke before Angela Stanton-King in No-
In this Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019 file photo, Tom Perez, left, chair trict after the longtime con- the committee of senior vember. Stanton-King is a
of the Democratic National Committee, and Nikema Williams,
chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, speak with reporters, in gressman and civil rights state party officials. reality TV personality and
Atlanta. leader's death last week. Williams beat out state Rep. was pardoned earlier this
Associated Press Williams, 41, was chosen Park Cannon, Georgia year by President Donald
from a list of five finalists as NAACP President James Trump for her role in a sto-
By BEN NADLER state Sen. Nikema Williams, the group works to quickly Woodall, Atlanta city coun- len car ring, after serving six
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia chair of the state party, to fill the spot in accordance cilman Andre Dickens and months of home confine-
Democrats have selected replace Rep. John Lewis on with state law. She is nearly Robert Franklin, former ment in 2007.q