Local schools are taking the recommendation of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in regard to students and staff wearing masks for the upcoming school year: it’s a local decision.
The department, along with the Department of Health and Senior Services, put out guidance last week which acknowledges the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends masks for all staff and students, but states “decisions should be made at the discretion of local boards of education, in consultation with local public health officials.”
Dr. Wesley Payne, Three Rivers College president, said the college will continue with a face covering mandate, which has been changed from the 2020-21 school year.
“This action was strongly suggested by our medical advising team as part of an overall strategy for keeping our college community as safe as possible,” he said.
The main update is to clarify that face coverings are required whether or not somebody is vaccinated. Students and staff are required to wear masks when not able to social distance in classrooms, offices, hallways, housing and outside.
Payne said, “After much consideration, our decision was based on four factors: the current state of the COVID-19 Delta variant in our area, the projected increase of cases in our area, the much younger ages in which the Delta variant is presenting itself, and the urging of our medical advising team who have daily and direct interactions with the virus in our area.”
Meanwhile, the Poplar Bluff R-I School District dismissed its mask requirement at the end of last school year. In September, the school board instituted it for all staff and a month later for students in fourth grade and up due to the number of people in quarantine.
Dr. Scott Dill, superintendent, said the requirement was not in place for summer school and up until the last two days there were no COVID-19 related incidents.
“That coincides pretty tightly with the Delta variant moving through the state,” he said.
If cases or contact tracing get to where too many staff or students are out of school, Dill said he’d consider taking a mask requirement back to the school board.
However, one of the main differences between the beginning of last year and this relates to contact tracing.
When the district instituted a mask requirement, wearing one was the only way to not be included in a contract trace. This year, while that is still in place, people who have been fully vaccinated will also be exempt, Dill said.
Neelyville R-IV Superintendent Debra Parish also wanted to emphasize that option.
Both superintendents agreed the only reason a person would be asked if they’re vaccinated is if it comes up during contact tracing.
Parish said the district is recommending masks, but not requiring them at this point.
“Neelyville R-IV, based on CDC guidance, recommends masks be worn indoors by those not fully vaccinated and for everyone on school buses,” she said. “The stance of the district is that wearing masks are decisions to be made by families. A government mandate of mask wearing would nurture a reconsideration by the district.”
The Twin Rivers R-X Return to Learn plan states face coverings are recommended in all settings for students and staff who are not vaccinated, “but are not required at this time with the exception of bus riders.”
All Butler County schools are planning to continue with additional cleaning protocols, structured seating and visitor limitations.
In terms of vaccinations, the Neelyville district will be hosting a vaccination clinic on Tuesday, Aug. 17 from 2 to 5:30 p.m. for those 12 and up. The clinic is free. Along with COVID-19 vaccines, school-required vaccinations will be available as well.
Dill said Poplar Bluff Schools hosted one in spring and is on track to host another in September.
“We’re making our facility available to outside agencies to provide your shots as desired by the community,” he said.
He’s feeling somewhat better about the situation going into this school year than he did a year ago.
“Last year, everything about this was entirely unknown in the school setting,” Dill said. “We do have a solid plan. We know that because it worked last year. Now we understand that the Delta variant, as reported, is moving through school-age populations differently. But we have solid people who have survived around this. And we are prepared to do what we need to do to help our kids get through this mess.”