Local medical professionals gave their reasoning for the USD 383 mask mandate to the school board Wednesday.
The mask mandate is also a part of the district’s reopening plan for the 2021-22 school year. The board heard several public comments against, stating concerns over student mental and physical health.
Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade brought on three members of the district’s Medical Advisory Board, made up of local medical officials, to explain the recommendation for the mandate.
Dr. Segen Chase says the committee wants students to return to a normal school year as much as anyone.
Chase says local and surrounding hospitals are all at capacity, causing transfers to be almost impossible.
The spread of the Delta variant in the local community has been the cause of the new mandate, as the new strain can infect more individuals at a faster rate.
Chase says taking masks away would lead to widespread infection. However, she also recommends masks breaks for children while outdoors.
Another member of the board, Dr. Kyle Goerl, says masks are primarily responsible for reducing the emission of a virus.
Goerl says it is very clear that vaccines work, but since the vaccination rate in the community is low, masks are the next best option.
Breakthrough cases for those who are vaccinated are rare and when they do happen , individuals show mild infections.
Goerl says the community is on the cusp of a situation close to what is going on in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri. He is worried those outbreaks will make their way into the state and into the community.
Dr. Kate Dove, who is a pediatrician, says while kids might not be hospitalized from COVID, she is seeing long term effects from infection. She saw two students who were infected early this year, but are still feeling the effects.
The other patient showed signs of an elevated heart rate, dizziness , and out of breath just sitting in the office. Dove says she keeps thinking about these patients and using their stories to make decisions to keep kids safe.
Dove says she is seeing an increase in mental health issues in younger groups, but this is coming from the time spent in hybrid learning and the overall toll of the pandemic.
After hearing from the, a majority of the board remained in favor of the masks. However, Board Member Darell Edie had concerns over the effectiveness of masks.
Edie says if the masks are not the best for the students, then he doesn’t want them required. However, Chase, Goerl, and Dove all say masks are the best option, aside from the vaccine.
Board Member Brandi Santos was also against the mandate, saying the board was overstepping its authority.
Board President Jurdene Coleman responded saying the district still implemented a mask mandate for the last school year based on CDC recommendations.
The board was also able to hear from two of the district’s principals on the issue. Amanda Arnold Principal Kathy Stitt says the district needs to have students on site, so they need to take whatever precautions are necessary.
Stitt says if she is able to have 600 people in the building and learning, then masks are worth it.
Theodore Roosevelt Principal Ashley Smith says they have plenty of choice over what do in the schools, but when it comes to quarantines.
Smith says they do not have the flexibility over the six and three feet social distancing.
No action was taken on the plan.
