Pencils, notebooks, backpack…masks?

JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Teton County School District officials are set to decide Wednesday on masks in the classroom to start the school season. If the meeting is anything like similar school board meetings across the state and the country—it should be a real doozy.

The special meeting Wednesday night at 6pm will discuss only one agenda item: a so-called Smart Start plan determining what steps will be taken to mitigate the spread of COVID. The meeting was called after the 7-member board put off making the call at its regular August 11 confab; one that was highlighted several passionate statements from parents who were, for the most part, adamant about not forcing students to wear face coverings. A few even threatened to pull their kids out of public school and either homeschool or enroll them in a local private school.

Since the delayed decision two weeks ago, Teton County moved to Red (High) COVID transmission risk from Orange (Moderate)—a jump that would appear almost certain to mandate masks when school starts next week. Today, county health officials doubled down on pandemic proofing as Health Officer Travis Riddell is seeking another countywide mask mandate, set to go into effect Thursday.

Superintendent Gillian Chapman made her recommendation to the board, aligning with new guidelines from the CDC that masks be required any time the county is in Orange or Red risk levels. Masks would be recommended when the county is in Green or Yellow conditions.

“The decision to wear masks is not taken lightly and will be made following input from the state and county health officers with careful review of the community transmission and CDC guidance,” Chapman stated.

District spokesperson Charlotte Reynolds added that remote learning would not be an option, at least to start the school year. All classes will be held in-person, in school. Pods will also not be utilized this school year. Isolating grades and other classifications of students and limiting the situations where student body as a whole could congregate was instituted in 2020-21.

“We will, however, not be admitting any outside visitors into buildings during the school day,” Reynolds said.

A game-changer could come when vaccinations are available to children under the age of 12. Should that take place, school officials say universal masking may be optional depending on the county risk level. It is unclear whether that would pertain to all students or just those vaccinated.