Durango School District 9-R students will need to stock up on face masks before classes begin later this month.
The school district’s dress code now requires students to wear face coverings when indoors on school grounds, except when otherwise permitted. The school board voted unanimously for the mandate during a tense special meeting Thursday.
“It is a very challenging situation. I have not taken any of this lightly,” said Kristin Smith, school board president, before the board vote. “I’m losing faith in (science), as many of you have. But I’m going to give it one last shot. I’m going to trust science one last time. I’m going to say that my vote tonight will be to do what’s best for our kids so that they can stay in-person as much as possible.”
“You’re reading the wrong science, lady,” said one audience member, prompting a back-and-forth between the audience and the board.
“Treating healthy children as if they’re sick when they’re not ... it’s shameful,” said another.
During the special board meeting, audience members repeatedly interrupted the proceedings, saying they could not hear or asking for scientific sources to back up the policy.
The policy adopted Thursday allows students with medical conditions that prevent them from being able to wear a mask to provide medical documentation from a doctor, in which case an alternative plan can be developed in conjunction with school administration.
Situations in which masks may not be required include sporting events or other events governed by outside organizations, such as the Colorado High School Activities Association.
The mask policy is also adaptable.
The board plans to update masking requirements based on changing circumstances and guidance from health entities or governmental agencies, according to the district.
The masking issue has divided the school district community.
During a feedback session attended by about 100 people earlier this month, a vocal group wanted the decision about masking to be left to parents, not forced on children by district policy. Other attendees said requiring masks would be the safest route to keep schools open for in-person learning.
The district also conducted a community survey, which gathered 1,200 responses, to inform its COVID-19 policies.
Respondents said masking was the second-greatest imposition on families during the last school year, behind cohorting. Testing, contact tracing and physical distancing were also listed among the top-five impositions.
However, 54% of respondents said they would support masking for unvaccinated people, as long as it meant students would not have to quarantine if exposed to a positive case.
At least 50% of respondents said they supported social distancing, providing vaccination statuses to schools, regular testing and having eligible students vaccinated – as long as quarantining wasn’t necessary.
During a meeting Tuesday, school board members said they planned to rely on guidance offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and San Juan Basin Public Health.
“We have our federal, state and local public health ... in agreement that the best thing to do, right now, is to do masks K-12,” said Andrea Parmenter, board secretary, emphasizing the board will re-evaluate its policy when appropriate.
All board members spoke in support of the masking policy, citing the desire to prioritize in-person learning and erring on the side of caution based on current research. Smith said she considered students and family members who are immunocompromised because of diseases or disabilities.
Immunocompromised people are often vulnerable to more severe cases of COVID-19.
Smith said it is frustrating that people like herself, in unpaid government positions, are having to make tough decisions like requiring masks instead of paid government officials putting orders in place to protect public safety.
“So what we have to go on are CDE, CDPHE and San Juan Basin recommendations,” she said. “I am outraged that volunteers are having to make these decisions.”
San Juan Basin Public Health has issued a public health advisory, not a mandate, recommending masks and other health precautions for La Plata County. The advisory also recommends schools require masks and other precautions to the extent possible.
Hays Stritikus, a student representative on the school board, spoke directly to the audience in support of masking.
“As a student, this is an issue that directly affects me. I do not enjoy wearing a mask, but the fact is the science is concrete,” Stritikus said. “This issue is about safety. It’s not about control. We need to make sure our students are safe so they can continue to learn."
smullane@durangoherald.com
