This has nothing to do with the kids and everything to do with the teacher’s union.
Washington’s 9th Legislative District Sen. Mark Schoesler told the Pullman City Council on Tuesday that reopening schools for at least some of the student population is “paramount” for the state.
Schoesler, R-Ritzville, joined 9th Legislative Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, and Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, in meeting with the city council to talk about legislative issues related to COVID-19, the possibility of a carbon tax, mental health resources and other issues.
Schoesler said he has heard stories in his district of academic failures, children with mental health problems and parents having difficulty finding day care options as schools have closed their doors in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Getting those schools at least open for the younger kids at the earliest possible time is paramount to several of the problems we’re facing,” he said.
Then, he said, the taxpayers must face the issue of how to catch up on months of “less than desirable education.”
“Somewhere we have to make up that ground academically,” he said.
Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson said he has heard of local families moving their children to Colfax schools where they are having in-person classes.
Schmick said he is going to push to reopen schools, and he cited concerns about the mental health of children not attending schools in person. As an example, he said numbers show suicides among the youth have increased.