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Schools

To Mask or Not to Mask

      At the August 19 meeting of the SAU #39 board, the Superintendent of schools, Adam Steel presented the color coded system for reopening schools as recommended by the Task Force. 

      The color coded system is mitigation while remaining safe. Mr. Steel explained that there is a balance that is struck between the personal freedoms that students and parents exhibit and the safety that is needed in our schools.  At the opening of schools, Clark Wilkins and AMS masks were required.  At Souhegan High School Masks were optional.

      When the meeting was open to the public for comments, a large number of residents in attendance stood in a long line to speak for the 3 minute allowance.

      First to speak was Dr. Chelsea Dixon-Dionne, a resident of Amherst and an internal medicine physician.  She supported the proposed plan and said that the level of masking was at a minimum.  She pointed out that the CDC recommends universal masking for staff and students regardless of vaccination status.

      Parents that didn’t want their children masked argued that there is psychological harm being done to the child.  Many parents pointed out that the masks are filthy and carry bacteria that parents wouldn’t want their child breathing in.  Some parents applauded the school board and staff for providing a safe environment for in person learning.

      One argument heard frequently accused the school of co-parenting.  That they know what’s best for the student.  Parents said the school was “overstepping their power and were out of bounds.”

      One parent called the mask mandates for  children, absurd, illogical, nonsensical and dangerous. 

      Another parent asked what is the penalty for a student not wearing the mask properly or not at all.  Masks represent fear.  Mask wearing should be the parent’s choice.  Every parent should have that right.

      “Give us choice.”

      Near the end of public time, a speaker presented a rebuke of the survey done by the school administration and distributed throughout the community. The resident of Mont Vernon said she had identified bias in the latest survey which resulted in a misinterpretation of the vast majority of the community’s desires.  In concluding that most parents (75%) support masks is misleading since only 1/6th of the community responded.  She suggested that the response rate may have been low because of the ambiguity in the wording of the questions.  A simple question put by this speaker would be “Do you want to force children who aren’t your own to wear masks against their wishes?”  She said that the conclusions of the survey were based on devious and fraudulent manipulation of biased data rather than the one data point that’s actually applicable: 92% want their kids to be able to develop into normally functioning adults. 

      The Color Coded System was approved with adjustments recommended by the Mont Vernon and Amherst School Boards.

Status Level System

      We will continue with our use of a five-color status system for our schools. New to this year, the status level can be different for each individual school based on conditions for that particular school.

      Below is a table that describes the overall system.

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Red – Campus Closed

When conditions are severe, the entire school campus will be closed much like the spring of 2020. This status will be reserved for the most intense safety concerns for the school community or due to an executive order by the Governor or decree from DHHS.

Orange – Strict Safety Protocols

• Masks will be required indoors for all staff and students and optional at Souhegan;

• The daily COVID symptom screening questionnaire will be required for access to the in-person environment but will not be required in the PowerSchool system but will not be required to be submitted by parents each day;

• There will be no access to the buildings by visitors or guests;

• All parent meetings that can be done remotely will be done remotely;

• Several smaller protocols (such as limiting use of band instruments) will be put into place; and,

• Lunch will be in classrooms and in building travel will be limited.

Yellow – Required Safety Protocols

• Masks will be required at MVVS, C-W and AMS and optional at Souhegan;

• Lunches will rotate outdoors and in classrooms for the purpose of limiting the number of students in the lunch room;

• Designated volunteers will be allowed to access the building; and,

• Parent meetings can be done remotely or in-person with masks.

Green – Recommended Safety Protocols

• Masks will be recommended indoors, but not required; and,

• Parent meetings will be allowed to take place in school, but parent will be given the option for remote meetings.

Blue – Near Normal Operations

When conditions warrant, school conditions will return to near-normal operations with no mask recommendations or requirements, or any other COVID-related safety protocol.

Factors Affecting Status Level

      We have established a list of factors that affect our status levels as described below:

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      The factors listed are in priority order meaning the factor affecting the status level the most is the number of active cases in a school followed by vaccination availability. As of August 10, the table below displays current information and what the status level for each school would be if school started this week:

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Remote Student Support – VLACS & Interventionist

      Some parents might want a remote option for some or all of this school year. Through a partnership with VLACS, our students can remain in our schools, but use VLACS courses while remaining connected to us through a Federally funded interventionist position. As the Board approved this last night, we will move forward with this plan and I will update the board on the progress.

Other Factors

• All students are required by Federal regulation to wear masks on our school buses.

• There will be a “sign-off” field on paperwork reflecting acknowledgment and acceptance of the District policies and procedures.

SEPTEMBER 2021

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