FREDONIA — Dr. Jennifer Bacani McKenney of Fredonia was tapped to co-chair a workgroup whose purpose is to protect Kansas schools from COVID-19.
Gov. Laura Kelly appointed McKenney, a family physician, and Dr. Stephanie Kulmann of the University of Kansas Medical School in Wichita, to lead a 16-member group of physicians. Also involved is Randy Watson, commissioner of the Kansas Department of Education.
McKenney, who is known as “Dr. Jen,” to her patients, also serves as Wilson County Health Officer.
According to Gov. Kelly, the work group’s goal is to use the best available science and information to highlight the urgency of protecting kids from the resurging pandemic.
“The perspective of local health care providers will be invaluable in helping Kansans understand the challenges posed by the delta variant, and how to keep our kids safe as they return to school,” Kelly said.
Kelly said she wanted to avoid a statewide mask mandate or limitations on attendance at public events.
“I want to avoid that at all costs. Now we know how to slow the spread and how to stop the virus. I would rather we implement those procedures rather than other things that we implemented a year and a half ago because it was the only thing we knew at the time. We know differently now,” she said.
