The South Central School District Board of Education decided after a lengthy discussion Wednesday night to continue to wear masks as mandated by the State Board of Education.
Superintendent Kerry Herdes told the school board everyone wants to know when it is going to end and there is no answer to that question. While they would rather follow metrics in the school district that show less than a third of a percent of positive students in each building, the board doesn’t want to risk being placed back on probation and face serious sanctions. The board also doesn’t want to get into a situation where they take the masks off for 30 days and then have to put them back on.
At the same time, they will remain part of the 140 schools that are part of the “Make It Local” group and support Vandalia, St. Elmo, and Brownstown Schools which have decided to take the masks off. Herdes says some action in the lawsuit filed against state officials over the masking requirements could come in January. He’s glad some school districts are challenging the state but is also glad South Central is in a position to watch what is happening without putting the district at risk.
Several board members were critical of the state legislature for not taking action on deciding if the Governor’s mandates should become law or be dropped.
Herdes thinks the masking requirements will eventually make it to the Supreme Court to be decided. Herdes admits the masking rules are eliminating one problem for the district.
“I think we are doing a really good job. When we can take close contact tracing out of the equation right now, which is quite the burden when we have to close contact trace within six feet. If those students are wearing their masks property and universally then there are no close contacts unless they are within 3 feet or less so it really takes the burden off of us.”
Herdes says they are looking at changing their stance on masking during basketball games.
“We are doing the best we can wearing the face masks during athletics. Students are struggling to remember to put the masks back on, to bring the masks, and then when we are wearing them we probably aren’t wearing them properly and can’t breathe well. So what we will probably do is mirror what the officials and other teams prefer. If the team and referees are wearing masks then we will, if they aren’t then we will probably prefer not to wear them.”
Right now the South Central District has two staff who are positive for COVID-19 and two others quarantine. There are currently six positive cases among students and 20 on quarantine.
