The Carroll Community School District’s (CCSD) Return to Learn plan, which includes a mask mandate for students in the classroom, will remain in place through the end of the school year with a few minor changes. A review of the current plan was already on last night’s (Thursday) agenda, but the topic was broached by several parents during the public forum segment of the meeting. Tyler Nelson spoke for those in attendance and questioned why masks were still required in the district despite vaccine availability and the county’s low positivity rate. The district started the year by strongly recommending masks but switched to requiring them in November due to high student-quarantine numbers. Board member, Duane Horsley, says the parents’ concerns are understandable and explained why the mandate was instituted.
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Jen Munson, who opposed requiring masks at the beginning of the year, agreed with Horsley. She points out the state’s guidelines were changed during the year so students would not be required to quarantine if both the positive individual and the student were wearing a mask while in close proximity. According to Superintendent, Dr. Casey Berlau, zero teachers and only 19 students were quarantined as of April 22. Total numbers for the 2020-21 school year are 141 positive cases and 1,090 quarantined students in the district so far with the bulk of those occurring before the state’s guidance changed. Berlau recommended the board keep the mask mandate in place but other protocols can be lessened or lifted completely.
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The board voted unanimously to approve these alterations to the Return to Learn plan. It is set to expire Friday, May 28, which is the final day of the school year. Berlau says it is not clear if protocols will be in place next year, but that will not be decided until sometime this summer.
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Berlau adds teachers, families and students will be notified of these changes through email and Infinite Campus. For the full text of CCSD’s Return to Learn plan and other COVID-related information, follow the link included with this story on our website.
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