After a five-hour special meeting Tuesday night, the Rapid City Area Schools Board of Education has not yet approved a back to school plan. Board members disagreed on requiring masks and others desire more detailed safety measures from administration.
A recent district survey shows up to a quarter of parents in the Rapid City area are considering an off-campus option. Superintendent Lori Simon spent much of the meeting explaining four options for distance learning. They range from live-streaming in-person classes to dedicating district teachers to only online instruction. The options could cost the district anywhere from 1.3 to 6 million dollars.
Another discussion revolved around requiring masks when social distancing on school grounds isn’t possible. Superintendent Simon is basing that recommendation on medical advice at the local, state and federal level.
“They are all saying the same thing: that masks are absolutely critical in this process.”
Board member Kate Thomas doesn’t believe the district has that authority.
“If you say for the good of the community, that sounds so socialistic and does not represent the United States," says Thomas. "And I think that’s why I feel this way so strongly. This is how we differentiate ourselves. We don’t mandate things we can’t enforce.”
Other board members wanted more details on safety precautions. Amy Policky asked for a report on facility ventilation, guidelines on appropriate masks, and consideration of a split schedule to allow more social distancing.
“It’s like we’re conducting the largest science experiment of our time!" she says. "We’re gonna throw all of our kids and our staff back to school and just wait and see what happens. We know these variables we can control and that will help us to be more successful.”
Superintendent Simon will consider adding some of those elements to the final recommendation.
The Rapid City Area Schools Board of education is expected to vote on the back to school plan on Monday.