School district implements mask policy amidst absenteeism

In an effort to preserve in-person learning, the Weiser School District Board of Trustees recently voted to implement measures to help reduce the spread of illness among staff and students.
 The measures include reviving a mask mandate inside District buildings during school hours.
 In a letter to parents and patrons, Weiser School District Superintendent Wade Wilson acknowledged the current controversy surrounding mask mandates, explained the District’s reasoning behind bringing them back, and outlined further strategies to keep kids in school.
 “Illness, both students and staff, is challenging our ability to keep our schools open for in-person learning at this time. High staff absenteeism coupled with low numbers of available substitute teachers has created conditions where we have positions all over the district that we are not able to cover on a daily basis,” he stated in the Sept. 8 letter, citing as many as 12 positions district wide that were not filled in a single day.
 Last week, Park School was forced to close for two days due to absenteeism. Wade told the Weiser Signal American on Sept. 14 that he could not confirm how many of the absentees were due to COVID-19, but said, “certainly much of it is related.” He added that staff and students could potentially go back to on-line learning if absentees persist. On-line learning during the 2020-2021 school year proved frustrating for teachers, parents and students alike.
 “We don’t know what the trends are today, that will take a little time to put together,” he said. “I think that potential exists, for sure. If we don’t have staff or if there is high absenteeism by students, it’s something that may occur and it is really something we are trying to avoid – any interrupted, full-time, in-person learning for students.”
 Any potential vaccination mandate would not come from the District, according to Wilson who said it would originate at  the state or federal government levels. At the time of this story’s publication, there has been no hint of such a measure.
 “Students and staff who are forced to miss school as a result of COVID-19 miss several days at a time. We need everyone’s help in order to disrupt the cycle of absenteeism in the district,” Wilson wrote in his letter.
 He asked for understanding from those who are opposed to mask mandates as the District works to keep in-person learning in tact.
 “I understand that masking is controversial and unpopular with some, however, again, I’m asking for your cooperation and help,” Wilson said. “No matter your position as it pertains to masking, if a little change can help us to level out absenteeism so that it is once again manageable, and we can maintain our current programming, then it is a win for all of us.”
 The following is a list of strategies adopted by the District’s Trustees, which were put into place Monday, Sept. 13 and extend to Wednesday, Oct. 13, at which time the trustees will re-evaluate conditions at their regular Oct. 13 meeting.
 • Masks are to be properly worn by staff and students when they are in buildings and classrooms during the school day.  This includes immediately before and after school when students are arriving or leaving.
Exceptions:
 • When eating.
 • When participating in activities such as speech therapy, playing a wind instrument, or during other special scenarios that require the removal of a mask.
 • When only one person is in a room.
Masks are not required:
 • Outside of a building.
 • On a school bus.
 • At after school events such as sports.
Other temporary strategies to be implemented include:
 • Suspend the use of non-essential classroom volunteers and visitors.
 • Restrict visitors during the day to the main office area.
 • Increase efforts to provide distance between desks and between students in classrooms.
 • Expand eating area options at schools and allow students to eat in classrooms, outside, or in other locations besides the cafeteria when conditions allow.
 • Limit staff release for professional development when a substitute is required.
 • Ensure sanitizer is available in all classrooms and work spaces.
 “It hasn’t been a fun thing to work with,” Wilson said. “But we are just trying to do the right thing to keep kids in school.”
 For Wilson’s full letter, visit www.weiserschools.org.