An empty classroom at the new Oliver Brown Elementary in Blue Township ahead of the 2021-2022 school year. (Photo by Derek Simmons/KMAN)
Three months ago, following the end of perhaps the most unusual school year in recent times, masks were coming off, restrictions were being lifted and the end of the COVID-19 pandemic seemed in sight.
School administrators now though are wrestling with the harsh reality of a continuation of restrictions, due to rising COVID numbers, fueled by the more contagious Delta variant. For how long restrictions will be in place is anyone’s guess. Vaccination statuses won’t matter in the districts with mandates in place. Students under the age of 12 aren’t eligible for vaccines, further complicating decisions for school officials not wanting to risk the health and safety of children and/or staff.
Frustrations have been boiling over from some parents on social media and at public meetings, pleading for administrators to reconsider. Reactions from school officials locally have been generally about the same. None are wanting to begin the year in masks, social distancing or any other restrictions that hinder the learning process. But the split largely comes down to what they believe is best for slowing the spread and keeping students and staff in school five days a week.
The Manhattan-Ogden school board plans to take up the discussion at a special meeting Wednesday at 6 p.m. That discussion will likely lead to masks being required of students through at least Sept. 24, School officials will not allow for public comment at Wednesday’s special meeting, though received quite a bit of reaction on both sides of the issue at their Aug. 4 meeting.
School officials in USD 475 Geary County also will start the school year wearing masks indoors, perhaps not a surprise given its connections to Fort Riley, where a federal mask mandate remains in place.
In Wamego, students and staff will begin the year wearing masks, following a 4-3 decision from the board late last week during a special meeting that included a public forum. It will require masks indoors whenever three feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.
All three districts will only require masks be worn indoors. Outdoor mask wearing is optional.
Elsewhere, school officials in some of the more rural districts are opting to begin the year with no mask mandate in place. USD 378 Riley County Schools officials followed CDC recommendations and on Monday voted 5-0 to strongly encourage masks be worn by students and staff.
USD 384 Blue Valley Schools and USD 323 Rock Creek schools similarly will strongly recommend masks be worn, but won’t mandate them to start the school year.
Masks will be required on school buses and school transportation vehicles at all school districts, per a federal mandate.
The post School districts weighing mask mandates amid growing frustrations with pandemic appeared first on News Radio KMAN.
