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 </figure>By NICK GOSNELLHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —Pre-K and elementary school students throughout Kansas should remain in school even with a large amount of community disease spread, according to guidance approved last week by the Kansas State Board of Education, given to the board by Kansas medical experts."Young children do not catch the virus as often as older children and adults," said Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson. "They don't get as ill as older children and adults and they do not transmit that virus as readily and easily to other people."Precautions to limit spread still need to be taken."The schools need to have a mask, every student," Watson said. "Adults should be masked up. Kids should be kept apart for the majority of the day. They need to sanitize per the guidelines in Navigating Change. They need to have a proper ventilation system operating."That means either sanitizing or washing hands at least every hour. "This decision making was all based upon the spread of the virus," Watson said. "The medical advisors said because the risk is so low, again, with catching the virus, spreading the virus and getting severely ill, that the negative parts of not being in school with early learners, early reading, early mathematics, being in school far outweighs the risk of not being in school with the younger kids."The new guidance was approved 10-0 by the board last Tuesday.

Watson: State Board says young kids should be in school, on advice of doctors