The Haines Borough School District Board will vote on updated school mitigation protocols at a special meeting next week after hearing recommendations from superintendent Roy Getchell Tuesday.
As COVID-19 delta variant cases continue to rise in Alaska, Getchell proposed beginning the year with more conservative mitigation measures including universal masking, but reassessing as more information becomes available.
“We started last year cautiously,” Getchell said. “I would advise that we start that way again.”
Proposed mitigations before the delta variant included optional face coverings for staff and students in grades 7 to 12. Face coverings would be required for grades without vaccine availability (K-6) and for individuals in the elementary wing and on school buses.
Other notable changes from last year include allowing symptom-free visitors into the school, not closing the school if there’s a positive case, no -cost testing for students and staff, the reopening of the school library, lunch in the lunchroom as opposed to the classroom for grades 7-12, school day ending at 3 p.m. rather than 2:15 and reopening the gym to the community.
The school sent out a survey in the spring asking for feedback on mitigation protocols. About 56% of the 101 respondents said they were displeased with the face coverings policy. Objections ranged from those who wanted mandatory masking for all students to those who wanted it to be a choice.
Kevin Shove spoke during public comment and requested that masking be optional.
The school board will discuss and vote on the recommendations at a special meeting on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m.
At its Tuesday meeting, the school board approved an outdoor English class taught by Alex van Wyhe. The board also approved subsidizing $44 per month internet payments to students and staff enrolled in the district using about $45,000 in remaining federal grant funds leftover from last year. Last school year, AP&T matched up to $35 for students and staff for internet services. AP&T will no longer match that funding.