House Republicans support return to in-person learning

OKLAHOMA CITY – Members of the House Republican Caucus today issued a statement in support of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s call for students to return to in-person learning in schools amid updated safety protocols.

“The majority of Oklahoma parents and guardians have chosen in-person learning as the best option for their child, and many have told us they want their children back in school. A recent medical study showed that 99.96% of 90,000 students and staff studied did not catch COVID-19 at school, and there were zero cases of child-to-adult within school transmission. This shows us that we can safely return students and educators to in-person learning with proper safety protocols in place with extremely minimal risk. Governor Stitt’s decision is the right, safe thing to do for our children, their families and our state educators.”

The governor on Tuesday announced that Oklahoma schools following safety protocols, including mask-wearing and social distancing, will be permitted to forgo the mandatory twoweek quarantine period for potential COVID-19 exposures.

The change is the result of requests from parents, teachers, and school leaders and enactment of the new guidelines is left to the discretion of each school district. Oklahoma Commissioner of Health Dr. Lance Frye also pointed out that other states such as Missouri, Utah and Ohio have put similar quarantine policies into place and haven’t seen large outbreaks occur in schools.

The governor said that refusing to offer in-person school is jeopardizing students’ education ad teachers’ careers, which in turn affects the entire state.

As part of the governor’s new policy, schools should continue

to require quarantines for exposed students in situations where masking and distancing protocols were not followed. Additionally, the updated quarantine guidance does not apply if the exposure occurs during after-school activities, including sports. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 must continue to isolate regardless where they contracted the virus or were wearing a mask.

The state is prioritizing vaccinations for teachers who are 65 and older this week and next and will open vaccinations up to all teachers as soon as vaccine availability allows. The state will also double the amount of rapid antigen tests provided to schools to encourage frequent testing to catch any positive cases early.

Frye also said schools have proven to be one of the safest places for most students. He said, data also shows— and the CDC recommends—that getting students safely back to in-person learning is critical for their educational success, mental health and social development.

Issuing the above statement from the House Republican Caucus are:

State Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon

State Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami

State Rep. Jeff Boatman, R-Tulsa

State Rep. Brad

Boles, R-Marlow

State Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee

State Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid

State Rep. Sherrie Conley, R-Newcastle

State Rep. Rusty Cornwell, R-Vinita

State Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, RPiedmont

State Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah

State Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa

State Rep. Mike Dobrinski, R-Okeene

State Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City

State Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee

State Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola

State Rep. David Hardin, R-Stilwell

State Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin

State Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow

State Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane

State Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus

State Rep. Dell

Kerbs, R-Shawnee

State Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa

State Rep. Mark Lepak, R-Claremore

State Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber

State Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond

State Rep. Stan May, R-Broken Arrow

State Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore

Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka

State Rep. Kevin McDugle, R-Broken Arrow

State Rep. Nicole Miller, R-Edmond

State Rep. Garry Mize, R-Guthrie

State Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee

Speaker Pro Tempore Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa

State Rep. Kenton Patzkowsky, R-Balko

State Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando

State Rep. Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula

State Rep. Dustin Roberts, R-Durant

State Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay

State Rep. Todd Russ, R-Cordell

State Rep. Lonnie

Sims, R-Jenks

State Rep. David

Smith, R-Arpelar

State Rep. Jay Steagall, R-Yukon

State Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh

State Rep. Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore

State Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso

State Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston

State Rep. Josh West, R-Grove

State Rep. Kevin

West, R-Moore

State Rep. Rick West, R-Heavener

State Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City