MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network-WSAU) – Governor Tony Evers said Tuesday that he does not plan to issue a statewide order keep schools from re-opening this fall.
Senator Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said last week that Evers’ latest emergency order requiring face-coverings in public places could be the pretext for additional orders that could close schools or businesses. The Governor said, “I have no secret plan as he suggested. I’ve spent a lot of time talking with school folks, I know a lot of them, spending most of my life in it, and I’ve been very proud of the work that all districts have been doing to determine what’s right for their students.”
Evers said school reopenings will be determined by local school boards and health departments. “I wouldn’t pay attention to the conversation between Fitzgerald and myself. I’d be paying attention to what the school board, the teachers are talking about when they’re talking about what schools going to look like this fall. And, surprise, surprise, that’s exactly what’s happened.”
Fitzgerald says he has the votes in the state senator to reject last week’s emergency order. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has been non-committal on such a vote in his chamber. Evers does not think the vote will happen. “I don’t think anybody’s out there, kind of hanging on for dear life to determine what Scott Fitzgerald is going to say next about this. I think they’re actually doing things at the local level, and I’ve been very appreciative of those efforts.”
Evers says “the vast majority” of K-12 districts are making decisions for the fall based on what their communities are asking for.
