Mask mandate still stands in the Superior schools

Members of the Superior Board of Education discussed mask requirements for the first hour of a special meeting held last Wednesday evening. About a week prior to the meeting, the board safety committee met and it appeared they had concluded indicators look good for a change in the required mask policy.

However, Supt. Kobza said, “We did not interpret the new three foot social distancing guidelines the same way South Central Health Department will be enforcing them. Basically not much has changed with social distancing.”

If all parties are wearing a mask and one contacts COVID-19, the other is not required to quarantine. However, if one is not wearing a mask, both are required to quarantine. If one tests negative after five days they can return to school after seven days if they are carefully following masking and social distancing guidelines.

Thus, a student wearing a mask and following masking guidelines, could miss significant upcoming school events like prom and graduation even though they did not have COVID-19 and wore a mask.

Supt. Kobza and members of the safety committee had hoped to make mask wearing optional.

From the beginning, Matt Sullivan, board president, has purported mask wearing as poppycock.

As usual, he challenged mask wearing repeatedly throughout the discussion.

Supt. Kobza reviewed the school protocol for the green, yellow and orange zones. As of last Wednesday, Nuckolls County was 1. 7 on the risk dial. From March 19-22 Nuckolls County has one reported positive COVID-19, had a 2.2 percent positivity rate with long-term care facilities included or a 7.3 percent positivity rate without care facilities. Sixty-eight percent of the 65 year and older population had been vaccinated.

Statistically, Nuckolls County is close to the low risk green zone with no cases in school since Feb. 26, a low number of cases in the community and vaccine available. To be in the green zone also requires no community spread, which health care personnel officials present questioned.

In response to the data, Supt. Kobza said, “ Are we in the green zone because of masking or are we here because COVID-19 has dropped?”

Megan McMeen, the school nurse, said, “Community contact tracing has become hard. People do not want to get their friends in trouble and often do not tell us about contacts.”

McMeen suspected the most recent active COVID-19 case in Nuckolls County may have possibly exposed at least 50 people to the virus.

McMeen presented recommendations from the local medical community and scientific guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC.) Both recommend wearing masks.

“There are only seven weeks of school left,” McMeen said. “Easter and the college spring break are here. Will our college students bring it home? We have more than 400 students and have done well with masks. Seventy one percent of the faculty have been vaccinated, but not all will be in the safe zone (30 days after their second vaccination) until May 10. Our illness and absenteeism is way down this year. We have not had influenza this year because of masks. We usually miss school days because of the flu. That has not happened this year, but the flu season is not over yet.

“ I feel it is too early to take away our mask requirement,” she said. “Let’s wait through Easter. Graduation is at risk. We are just seven weeks from letting the Class of 2021 graduate.”

Matt Sullivan asked, “How many students and staff have had COVID?”

There were 189 students either in quarantine or isolation, 110 in quarantine and 79 positive cases. The last day a student was out of school was Feb. 26. Community spread events occurred with the St. Cecilia volleyball game and perhaps one basketball game.

Doug Hoins, elementary principal said, “April is our testing month. If we ended up with an outbreak it would be hard to get the testing done. It is not just elementary, but also sixth, seventh and eighth grade students who must be tested before May.”

Sullivan said, “When we put the mask mandate in place, it was to protect the vulnerable. They are now vaccinated. I still think wearing a mask should be a personal choice.”

Luke Meyers said, “I like it being a personal choice, but with the current rules it is not really a personal choice, a student wearing a mask still could miss activities they want to be part of because someone else does not wear a mask. That is not what the safety committee thought a week ago when we considered changing the policy.”

The mounting pressure from sports events was acknowledged. Matt Bargen said, “I have been to little kids’ basketball lots of places, the grandparents are coming again and almost no one is wearing masks.”

The Big 10 is opening up to spectators.

Supt. Kobza, “Lots of things do not make sense. The political pressure to play sports has been greater than safety, thus the random guidelines. Two wrestlers face off without masks, breathe each other’s air, but cannot shake hands and must wear masks on the bench. It is not logical.”

“The no tell mentality related to contract tracing does not work at school because contract tracing is easy at school. Class rosters, attendance lists, eye witnesses and cameras provide a detailed account of who was with whom and for how long they were together.

Sullivan asked, “Can the health district close us down?”

Kobza responded, “No the health district cannot shut down the school. However, they can require us to help with contact tracing and if we do not quarantine a student or staff member, we could be in big trouble.”

Someone asked, “What are the other schools in our conference doing?”

Bob Cook, secondary principal said, “Everyone in attendance at a conference meeting I just attended is requiring masks for the remainder of the school year.”

Meyers said, “I do not want to be the only district in the conference without a mask requirement.”

Sullivan responded, “Herd mentality. Let’s be a leader and stop this nonsense.”

McMeen said, “We are really fortunate to have been in school this year. A year ago, we had the similar numbers in our health district and we shut down and finished the school year at home. Lot of schools in the nation are just returning to the class room.”

Sullivan said, “When does it stop?” (The Department of Health telling us what to do?)

McMeen continued, “Three to 400 vaccinations are given each week at the Superior Family Medical Center. All of the staff are working extra days to get it done. We are vaccinating as fast as we are getting the vaccine.”

Treg Vyzourek, Brodstone Hospital administrator, said, “We expect that everyone who wants to be vaccinated can be vaccinated sometime this summer.”

Sullivan said, “The most vulnerable have already been vaccinated.”

Kim Williams, administrative secretary said, “I have a pregnant daughter on staff who cannot get vaccinated because it has not yet been approved for pregnant women.

“You do not know if you are vulnerable,” Williams continued, “I recently had a sister-in-law die. She did not know she was vulnerable.”

Peggy Meyer was not physically present at the board meeting, but was connected so she could be heard and give input. She suggested the board wait until the April meeting and revisit the mask issue.

Matt Sullivan asked for a motion. No motion was forthcoming the issue was tabled.

In other business a design with the current school mascot in the middle of the performance gymnasium floor was approved.

The board accept the resignation of Krisha Schott. She plans to be a third grade teacher at Gretna Public Schools.

The employment of Marissa Asche to teach kindergarten was accepted. She is a Thayer Central High School graduate and expects to complete a bachelor of science degree in early childhood at the University of Nebraska, Kearney in May. Supt. Kobza said, “She comes with good grades, high recommendations and lots of leadership experience.”

A certified contract was also extended to Nicole Fiegener. Fiegener has done some substituting for the Superior District so is already known by the staff. She is a Title I teacher at Falls City Sacred Heart, Falls City, Neb. Supt. Kobza said, “She has a great temperament, personal experience and we feel she will be a great fit with our staff.”

The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 12.