By Sherman Smith
Tribune News Service
TOPEKA — The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Kansas climbed Tuesday to at least 14 as Kansas officials confront the pandemic and an ever-shifting new normal.
The latest cases come from a traveler to Ford County and two additions that bring the Johnson County total to 10. Franklin, Butler and Wyandotte counties also have recorded a case apiece.
The Kansas Lottery announced it was closing the four state-owned casinos in response to Gov. Laura Kelly’s ban on gatherings of 50 or more people. The state operates casinos in Kansas City, Pittsburg, Mulvane and Dodge City.
Kelly also asked public schools to close this week to allow officials time to prepare for the rest of the semester, which could include a shift to online learning and plans for providing meals to children.
The Kansas House, which began the day with an opening prayer that urged the Senate to work with more urgency, launched debate of a bill to provide a waiver for required attendance at public schools.
Education commissioner Randy Watson could grant waivers to school districts under a statewide or county-level emergency declaration because of the coronavirus.
House Speaker Ron Ryckman said the legislation was a response to concerns raised by Watson. Current Kansas law requires 1,116 classroom hours in a school year for students in grades 1 through 11, and 1,086 hours for grade 12.
The waiver also would allow schools to continue to pay all employees, even if the school is closed. The pay could help schools continue to provide food for children, Ryckman said.
“We’re giving our locals, through Randy’s office, the authority to do what they think is best at this time for schools and their kids,” Ryckman said.
Rep. Sean Tarwater, R-Stillwell, proposed amending the bill to require schools to pay their employees. He suggested schools can’t be trusted in the wake of a legislative audit that showed money earmarked for at-risk students had been used in some schools on classroom learning for all students.
“They said their intent is to pay their employees and keep them off of the unemployment lines, however, their intent was also to use the at-risk money for at-risk students, and you saw the audit,” Tarwater said.
In floor debate, Rep. Michael Capps, R-Wichita, raged against the proposal as a “government-funded bailout of the education system.”
Lawmakers were working to finalize several other pieces of legislation relating to the coronavirus crisis. They include an extension of the governor’s emergency declaration into January 2021, expansion of unemployment benefits, and authority for the judicial branch to alter speedy trial standards and other deadlines.
House leaders had hoped to expedite the budget and adjourn Monday, but the Senate insisted on working through Wednesday or Thursday to get additional work done.
One Kansan has died from the virus. KDHE has tested more than 230 individuals at its Topeka lab.
Ford County administrator J.D. Gilbert confirmed the county’s first positive case, which involves a patient over the age of 60 who traveled to the southwest Kansas county. Gilbert said the family is under quarantine.
“Our staff, along with community partners, are all dedicated to the Ford County community and are staying up late, waking up early to stay prepared and to keep you informed and safe,” Gilbert said.