By: Diane Benjamin
h/t a reader
Fieldcrest posted their mask policy on Facebook. I broke their letter into 3 parts and below each posted parts from the letter Tri-Valley wrote. Somebody (Regional Superintendent of Schools?) wrote a template and sent it to schools, the two are way to much alike. I bet you will find the same verbiage from many schools who are now masks optional.
Tri-Valley is from this story: https://blnnews.com/2022/02/08/tri-valley-mask-policy/
Tri-Valley:
On Sunday, February 6, 2022, we sent an update to all families that our District had decided to maintain all of our Covid-19 Mitigations pending the outcome of the appeal process of the recent TRO order in Sangamon County. As expected, that decision was met with positive and negative reactions.
After several additional discussions today with our attorneys and stakeholders, it has become clear that our schools’ ability to enforce certain COVID-19 Mitigations, such as masking and close contact/exclusions, in this environment is virtually impossible. These issues have become a significant distraction in our buildings for our students, teachers and administrators.
Tri-Valley:
The ruling against our state puts all schools in legal limbo with no chance of certainty and/or clarity until the completion of the legal appeal process. Our goal in our original decision was to avoid moving back and forth between protocols should an appeal overturn the judge’s TRO order.
However, due to the distractions we have encountered, we feel we have no choice but to “pause” enforcing masking and close contact/exclusions of asymptomatic individuals as we await the conclusion of the appeal process. We are hopeful for a swift decision.
Please understand that we have students and staff who are immunocompromised. It is with this in mind that we strongly recommend that all students and staff continue to wear masks while inside the school until we have further direction from the state government agencies or court rulings. However, please note that masks must still be worn on buses at all times per Federal mandate. Additionally, when traveling to other schools for extracurricular activities we will expect our athletes, employees and, respectfully request our parents, to follow our host’s COVID-19 mitigations.
Tri-Valley:
Please note that if a student and/or staff is COVID-19 positive, our current COVID-19 mitigations as it relates to positive cases will be enforced. We will also attempt to notify individuals if we believe a close contact has occurred in order to monitor for symptoms. We appreciate everyone’s understanding as we navigate this unbelievably frustrating time.
Lastly, please discuss kindness, empathy and compassion with your child in relation to respecting everyone’s needs and choices. While we cannot always change the situation, we can control our actions and reactions. Let us be clear, we will strictly enforce our anti-harassment/bullying policies and protocols if needed.
We thank those that have responded with kindness and grace. We will communicate further developments as they arise. Thank you for your continued support and patience.
David Mouser and Carl Neubauer
Superintendent and Tri-Valley Board of Education President
My kids (unit 5) won’t take them off because they fear being kicked out. I encouraged them to take them off but it’s their decision. I get the sense the mask thing is almost over. It is over most places.
Meanwhile Stacey Abrams candidate for Georgia governor says, “I took a picture and that was a mistake.” As she tries to apologize for not wearing a mask she obviously points out that her mistake was getting caught by busting herself out.
So who wrote the template?
Time for parents to do what Virginian parents have done. Sue the school district. Time to end the child abuse ! Then families need to liberate the elderly in nursing homes ! Not only are they forced to mask but some are being held in isolation against their will.