Maryland Catholic schools can reopen after governor overrides county

Catholic News Agency ^ | August 4, 2020 | CNA Staff

[ripnbang]

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) issued an emergency order on August 3 ensuring non-public schools, including Catholic schools, can make their own decisions regarding reopening for in-person instruction in the coming academic year.

The order, issued Monday, came after Montgomery County, the most populated county in the state, issued an order on July 31 prohibiting all non-public schools from opening for in-person classes before October 1.

Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles said in Friday evening’s statement that “At this point the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students or teachers,” and that forcibly closing non-public schools was “necessary to protect the health and safety of Montgomery County residents” during the coronavirus pandemic.

Over the weekend, Hogan issued an initial response to the Montgomery County order, saying he “strongly disagreed” with the forced closure of all non-public schools. “As long as these schools develop safe plans that follow CDC and state guidelines, they should be empowered to do what’s best for their community,” Hogan said on Aug. 1.

[cyclotic]

Hogan doesn’t have the cajones to enforce an opening with the National Guard, but wow, would that be cool if he did.

[livius]

I agree. Lenny Curry also imposed a mask order that is killing local businesses and was one of the reasons the convention was cancelled (which he knew perfectly well).