Parents lobby for mask mandate in schools

A number of parents have demanded that the Grafton School District create a mandatory mask requirement after the district saw a large increase in Covid cases this year, with some months seeing higher positivity rates than in 2020.

As the district prepares to update its 2021-22 school year plan, about a dozen community members addressed the School Board during its Oct. 25 meeting, many pushing for mask mandates and some pushing for more lenient policies.

After masks were required through the 2020-21 school year, masks were made optional as the initial Covid spike appeared to decrease. The Delta variant has caused a resurgence of cases throughout the country, not excluding the Grafton district.

Compared to 2020 figures, confirmed Covid cases were largely higher this year through September and October, according to Director of Pupil Services Laura Stautz.

In September 2020, 16 cases were recorded at Grafton High School and 27 were recorded in September 2021. At John Long Middle School, four cases were recorded in October where none were recorded last year,  and 26 cases were recorded this October compared to three for the same time last year.

As of Oct. 25, there were four Grafton district classes that switched to virtual learning after reaching a 15% positivity rate and one that had returned to in-person learning Monday after nearly two weeks of remote learning.

Currently there are 18 students with Covid in the district, down from the 38 recorded last week.

Stautz attributed the spike in district cases to events occurring outside of the school. She said many students who test positive often report attending extracurricular events, parties or sleepovers.

“We’re seeing a quick uptick in cases when there is an extracurricular event or a party,” she said.

 The notion was refuted by some parents, who blamed the district increase on its change in mask policy.

Sini Malloy said her daughter tested positive for the virus Oct. 19 even though she has not attended any parties or social functions this year. She said her daughter was exposed to the virus in school by other students who do not wear masks.

“I beg you to revisit universal masking in grades K-12,” she said.

Kevin Steiner, another parent, said the school district has chosen to side with parents complaining about the mental health impact of requiring students to wear masks rather than follow data that masks are effective in reducing spread of the virus. He also noted that the district’s transmission rates are higher than community transmission rates.

“You cannot tell us that this is community related, it is school district related,” he said.

Student Council member Morgan McCraw said she is one of many students whose class has been quarantined this year and that the outbreaks are the cause of the masking policy change. She said last year there were fewer cases in the school because of the masking requirement.

“Choosing to make face masks optional was not the right choice,” she said.

No action was taken on the 2021-22 school year plan, which will be completed before the end of the school year.

During the meeting, Stautz said the district is close to rolling out a free Covid testing program for students and staff. She said that once the program is established in coming weeks, individuals with symptoms or close contacts will be able to take a test on school grounds.

 The tests will enable the district to take students with positive tests out of the school quickly and to keep students with negative tests in class.

“As we head into cold and flu season, we might have some negative tests so those kids can come back to school more quickly,” she said.