By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Part of Monday’s meeting of the USD 308 School Board dealt with a large number of patrons who were against the district's COVID policy that requires students and staff to wear masks while indoors.
“We appreciate people that are passionate and care very deeply about the welfare of their children,” Superintendent Mike Folks said. “We had a lot of parents that attended the board meeting and several of them spoke in regards to the recommendation for a mask requirement.”
Folks says he certainly understands the frustration of patrons and feels some of that too.
“Six weeks ago we were watching this and we were in summer school and we were thinking that this would not be the path whatsoever,” Folks said. “Things have really changed, forcing us to pivot our plans.”
With legislation that all but eliminated the ability to have remote learning, the district could face students going to the virtual school during the year.
“The virtual school is a different platform and it's not like remote learning . . . it’s more of an online learning experience,” Folks said. “We just cannot allow the yo-yo back and forth that went on last year.”
Folks says his hope is to be able to remove the mask mandate some time during the school year.
“My goal, my hope here, is that some time in September, October . . . I’m hoping this fourth wave is behind us and we’re seeing a decline in numbers where we can remove the masks and get back to complete normalcy,” Folks said. “We’re trying to have an educational experience that is as normal as possible.”
The board approved the COVID policy last night.
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