To the editor:

A July 23 Journal-World headline read “Governor’s school delay shot down.” The story related that the Kansas Board of Education had voted 5 to 5 on the issue, thereby rejecting the governor’s wise call for a delay in opening the schools in a virus upturn. Buried in the article is this little gem: “Appearing in a virtual meeting Wednesday, conducted that way in the interest of safety because of the pandemic, the board split evenly on the order…”

So, it’s OK to send our children, teachers and staff into situations the board in its wisdom would not do to themselves?! Shame on them! Remember this; one dead child is one too many, one dead teacher is one too many, one dead staff member is one too many, one dead relative or friend infected by one of the former is one too many, because they were all preventable. May these deaths be laid at the feet and on the conscience of the board members who voted against the order. May their next safe meeting be to commiserate regarding their losses in the next election. I applaud our local school board for having the courage and wisdom to do the right thing and delay opening until we are truly ready.

Doug Burger,

Lawrence