Gov. Kate Brown’s decision to lift Oregon’s indoor mask mandate no later than March 31 will give local school districts the ability to make independent decisions about their own Covid mitigation protocols.
According to KLCC, the Oregon Department of Education expects the state will be in a different, safer place in the pandemic by the end of March. Leading up to that point, Director Colt Gill said each school district has lots to consider.
Masking inside schools remains in effect until the end of March. Gill said that “any school district that does not maintain compliance will not be able to draw federal COVID-19 assistance funds… When a school board or district leader falls out of compliance with the mask mandate, it puts school staff in a tough position.”
While many Benton County school districts have been complying, Alsea’s Superintendent’s decision to flaunt the law resulted in that district’s loss of funds.
In his interview with KLCC, Gill said districts should take the coming weeks to talk to their staff, community and local public health officials. He added it’s also a good time for parents to get their child vaccinated.
“Our school districts reflect our broader communities,” he said. “The vulnerable populations – the unvaccinated, the immune-compromised, those with underlying health conditions – all of those individuals exist in our classrooms and in our schools. So, our school districts need to have thoughtful conversations about moving away from universal masking.”
By Stacey Newman Weldon
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