By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When school starts next Wednesday, masks will be required for Bowling Green City Schools elementary students, while masks will be optional for those 12 and older, who have vaccines available to them.
Bowling Green Board of Education broke ranks with several other local school districts Tuesday evening, and followed guidance from the Wood County Health Department instead. The vote was unanimous, though board member Tracy Hovest voiced her displeasure.
“I don’t like it, but I’ll support it,” she said.
The vote came after two citizens spoke about the “proof” that masks not only don’t prevent COVID, but they actually collect the virus and pose greater risks to those who wear them.
But the board chose to follow guidelines from the Ohio Department of Health on quarantining after exposure to COVID in classroom settings. Vaccination is the best prevention against COVID, but other steps also provide layers of protection.
If schools take the measures of requiring masks, keeping at least 3 feet between desks, while increasing ventilation and cleaning, then students who are exposed to someone with COVID in the classroom do not need to be quarantined.
“The goal amongst all the districts is to keep students in school all year long,” Bowling Green Superintendent Francis Scruci said.
“The guidelines pretty much tell you what you need to do,” he said.
The only two members of the public to speak at the meeting presented information to the board stating that masks don’t work.
Tim Stechschulte said that children are thousands times more likely to be sold into trafficking than to contract COVID. He presented information about six parents in Florida, whose children wore masks for hours, then had the masks examined, finding bacteria and fungus on them but not COVID.
“Masks don’t work,” he said. “Masks actually cause it.”
Stechschulte said this was all factual material that could easily be looked up.
“I’m all about the science,” he said. He suggested people check out OhioStandsUp.org. “It’s got facts. It’s got hyperlinks. It’s got numbers.”
Paul Tyson printed off 80 documents showing masks are ineffective, and another 63 documents saying they are harmful.
“Connect the dots,” he said.
“I know you’re going to get pressure from people who want masks,” Tyson said, urging the board to not buckle under the pressure.
Just last week, Scruci sent a letter to Bowling Green parents and staff about masks being mandated on buses and optional in classrooms when the school year begins.
But that all changed as COVID numbers continue climbing in Wood County, pushing it into the “high” transmission level.
No matter what the district does, some will support and others will oppose masks in school, Scruci said.
“We still have to follow the recommendation of our health officials,” he said.
Gov. Mike DeWine has stated that it is too late for schools to impose mask mandates. Scruci disagreed.
“I’m not sure it’s ever too late to mandate masks,” he said.
Scruci recommended that the board require masks for those students in elementary schools, since they are too young for the COVID vaccine. He also suggested that masks be optional for those 12 and older in middle and high school. The district cannot ask students if they have been vaccinated.
In Wood County, 40% of people between the ages of 12-19 are fully vaccinated.
Bowling Green is not completely alone on the mask mandate.
Otsego Superintendent Adam Koch sent a letter out to his district Tuesday evening stating that based on the health commissioner’s recommendations, Otsego would be requiring masks for all students in schools and on buses.
Bowling Green board members all spoke their minds on the proposed mask policy.
“I absolutely hate these things,” board member Ryan Myers said, holding up his mask. “But I absolutely hated our students being out of school last year.”
Adhering to the ODH guidelines, not mandating masks would risk the chance of more students missing school by being exposed in the classroom.
“I have to do my part to try to keep kids in school,” Myers said.
Board member Tracy Hovest voiced frustration that school boards are being asked to handle issues that others won’t touch. She mentioned the Wood County Fair, and upcoming Rally on Main and Tractor Pulling Championships.
“I just hate the hypocrisy that is knee-deep,” she said. “I hate that the burden of this pandemic is falling on the backs of our children. This should not fall on the backs of kids or on the school board.”
Board member Jill Carr said she is especially worried about the elementary students, who have no access to vaccines yet.
“We’re trying to keep kids and teachers safe,” she said.
Board member Ginny Stewart said vaccinations are the best protection.
“I would never tell people to get the vaccine,” she said. But she added, “I would prefer that everyone is vaccinated. It’s the responsible thing to do. I want our kids in school.”
Myers agreed, talking about the effect of online learning for the bulk of last year.
“I don’t think our community can take that,” he said of parents and of the learning loss that occurred. “We have to have kids in school.”
And the best way to do that is to employ the layers of safety measures.
“We have to do it as a community,” Myers said. “Keeping our schools open is a priority.”
The board also gave Scruci the ability to lift safety measures or expand them if warranted as the COVID numbers change.
Hovest asked for assurances that school would not be canceled on hot days due to the students being masked. Scruci said school will not be canceled due to masks, but may be closed if the temperatures are extremely hot – 110 or 115 – in the three school buildings without air conditioning. Myers reminded that the district is working on installing air conditioning in those three buildings by next spring.
Board President Norm Geer began the meeting by putting in a plug in for COVID vaccinations.
“Masking is important, but so is the vaccine,” he said. “This is not something we should impose on anyone. We recognize it’s a personal choice.”
However, Geer added, “Please consider getting the shot. Each new vaccination is one step closer to Bowling Green Schools and the community returning to normal.”
