“We may sue you in federal court. We request a vote tonight,” he said, adding several other districts have reduced mandates to voluntary use of masks. “You stand alone and we await your vote tonight.”
Later, when the mask and COVID update appeared on the agenda for discussion, Superintendent Ed Theroux said county superintendents had met with health commissioners on the subject. He said there has been a slight uptick in cases in Butler County and in the 45056 zip code.
“Some districts have moved to strongly recommend masks,” Theroux said, adding that with vaccination approval for children ages 5-11, he hopes the risk of infection will decrease.
He said he had scheduled a vaccination clinic for yesterday and has a tentative reservation for January 8. Those clinics were set up for anyone, not just students, to get first, second or booster shots.
“My concern is to be sure people who want the vaccination get the vaccination,” he said. Concern over the holidays with parties and gatherings causing a spread is an issue, the superintendent said. He added the district’s protocols have been helping to keep numbers down.
He also noted the city of Oxford’s mask mandate is set to expire Dec. 13, the same day as the board’s regular monthly meeting.
“The goal, ultimately, is to keep schools open,” Theroux said. “My concern is if we move too quickly.”
Board member Kathleen Knight-Abowitz said they need to have a plan in place for when the mandate is ended.
“The two vaccination clinics are good. I hope at the next meeting we can hear proposals. It is time to invite the public to step up and get the vaccine. Masks will not beat it. The vaccine will be what does it,” she said.
Rebecca Howard echoed that, saying, “We need a specific plan. The next meeting is December 13, the day the city’s mandate expires.”
Patrick Meade expressed a similar idea, but wanted a way to reinstate a mask requirement if the situation demands it.
“I’m in favor of getting rid of the mask mandate, based on transmission rates. I’m in favor of giving Dr. Theroux authorization to take it off (based on predetermined transmission numbers) and to reinstate it as needed, based on metrics we approve in December,” Meade said. He noted it would be the same authority the superintendent already has with regard to flu protocols, based on percentages of absences in a school building. “My recommendation is I will always be in favor of following protocols.”
Board President Chris Otto said that policy is what has been done in the past.
Theroux expanded on that saying they are seeing an outbreak at Marshall and he is monitoring the situation. The policy threshold is 20 percent, and he said he shut down the eighth grade at the middle school when it reached 30 percent.
“It’s not great for parents. It’s not great for students,” he said of shutting down a building or a section of one.
Otto closed the discussion saying the topic would be on the December agenda.
“Our main goal is to keep schools open and kids safe,” he said.