To mask, or not to mask
Cassville School Board Meets
November 18, 2020
Sheila Harris
A lengthy discussion ensued at the November 17 meeting of the Cassville R-IV Board, after superintendent Dr. Richard Asbill recommended that a masking ordinance be passed.
A November 12 announcement by Missouri governor, Mike Parson, modified the quarantine requirements for students and staff in grades K-12 if those identified as close contacts to a positive COVID-19 case were properly masked. If all parties to a close encounter are properly masked, the 14-day requirement for quarantining would be waived, thus allowing students to spend more time in the classroom.
In order for the modifications to apply to a school district, that district must first pass a board-approved mask ordinance. The ordinance would be the first step in a plan which must ultimately be authorized by the Barry County Health Department and Health Board.
According to Asbill, the modified quarantining proposal would be subject to review by the state and could be retracted at a later date if it doesn’t prove to be effective.
The board approved the masking ordinance by a 5-2 vote. Dissenting votes were cast by board members Steve Henbest and Chad Yarnall, who expressed concern that the masking of students would become permanently mandated.
“I would like to see us review this masking requirement on a regular basis, maybe quarterly,” Yarnall said.
If the modified masking guidance is approved by the Barry County Health Department, student masking in the Cassville school district will be implemented over the next two weeks.
Masks must meet defined guidelines in order to qualify, 6,640 of which are currently available at the school.
“My office looks like an Ebay warehouse right now,” Asbill said.
“I’m hopeful that the new masking guidelines will allow us to return to seated classroom instruction on a daily basis,” he added.
In less controversial matters, Asbill recommended that the school calendar be modified to allow for the dismissal of students on December 18 for the end of the first semester. The recommendation was unanimously approved by the board.
Students will attend a full day of class on December 18. There will be no classes on December 21 and 22, as previously scheduled.
Classes will resume on January 5.
A lengthy discussion ensued at the November 17 meeting of the Cassville R-IV Board, after superintendent Dr. Richard Asbill recommended that a masking ordinance be passed.
A November 12 announcement by Missouri governor, Mike Parson, modified the quarantine requirements for students and staff in grades K-12 if those identified as close contacts to a positive COVID-19 case were properly masked. If all parties to a close encounter are properly masked, the 14-day requirement for quarantining would be waived, thus allowing students to spend more time in the classroom.
In order for the modifications to apply to a school district, that district must first pass a board-approved mask ordinance. The ordinance would be the first step in a plan which must ultimately be authorized by the Barry County Health Department and Health Board.
According to Asbill, the modified quarantining proposal would be subject to review by the state and could be retracted at a later date if it doesn’t prove to be effective.
The board approved the masking ordinance by a 5-2 vote. Dissenting votes were cast by board members Steve Henbest and Chad Yarnall, who expressed concern that the masking of students would become permanently mandated.
“I would like to see us review this masking requirement on a regular basis, maybe quarterly,” Yarnall said.
If the modified masking guidance is approved by the Barry County Health Department, student masking in the Cassville school district will be implemented over the next two weeks.
Masks must meet defined guidelines in order to qualify, 6,640 of which are currently available at the school.
“My office looks like an Ebay warehouse right now,” Asbill said.
“I’m hopeful that the new masking guidelines will allow us to return to seated classroom instruction on a daily basis,” he added.
In less controversial matters, Asbill recommended that the school calendar be modified to allow for the dismissal of students on December 18 for the end of the first semester. The recommendation was unanimously approved by the board.
Students will attend a full day of class on December 18. There will be no classes on December 21 and 22, as previously scheduled.
Classes will resume on January 5.
