Masks will be optional when students return to Blair Community Schools (BCS) this fall.
Supt. Randy Gilson presented the first draft of the back to school reopening plan Monday night during the BCS Board of Education's regular meeting. Copies of the plan and a survey was sent to parents on Tuesday.
“Our first goal is to make sure all of our kids are in school and safe,” Gilson said.
The board is expected to approve the final plan at a special board meeting July 26.
“If we started school tomorrow, I feel comfortable that we'd have safe buildings with safe practices for kids to move into,” Gilson said.
According to the draft plan, masks would be optional for students and staff who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19. For those who are not fully vaccinated, masks are recommended.
“We've had masks be optional all summer,” Gilson said. “We've had summer school, we've had summer activities with weight rooms and different camps. We've had transportation live again where kids aren't masking. We haven't seen a COVID case. Not to say there aren't some out there … I think at this point in time we can move forward with a no masking policy.”
Gilson recommended keeping some of the practices and procedures used during the 2020-21 school year, including hallway traffic and multiple entries points into the buildings.
“It worked better. The social distancing, again, it worked better. We saw a decrease in office referrals, we saw an increase in student engagement,” he said. “I think some of those things are just better education practices.”
Remote learning will not be offered this fall. It will also not be an option for quarantined students or students with an extended absences during the 2021-22 school year. Extended absences will be handled as they were prior to the pandemic. It is the responsibility of the student and their family or guardians to contact teachers and make up work that has been missed.
As part of the plan, Gilson asked that the district collect COVID-19 immunization data, which is allowed under Title 173 of the Nebraska Administrative Code.
“Are we going to deny a student if they weren't vaccinated? No. Are we going to deny a teacher if they weren't vaccinated? No,” he said.
The plan includes information on the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine as resources. However, Gilson said the district will not pressure parents, teachers or students to get vaccinated.
Screening, most of which will be done at home, will be critical, Gilson said. Infrared screens will be available in the offices to temperature check those who enter the building. Visitors will be allowed.
Parents who attended the meeting thanked Gilson for having a draft plan available to review prior to the start of the school year. They also voiced their concerns over the mask policy, particularly those focused on staff and students not fully vaccinated.
“I would like to see that option be the same for both, that wording as optional, as well as for the students who are not fully vaccinated,” parent Bridget Aschoff said. “That recommended versus optional, I feel it pins one against the other on personal choices.”
Parent Chelsea Kugler also thanked Gilson and the board for making masks optional.
“It was a huge burden on my kids last year,” she said.
