By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When Bowling Green City School students return to school later this month, masks will be required on buses, but will likely be optional in classrooms.
A letter was sent out Tuesday by Superintendent Francis Scruci to update parents, guardians and staff.
“Our goal and hope this year will be to keep our students in person and in school all year,” the letter said.
“We had a great summer as things started to look like we were getting back to normal,” Scruci wrote. However, as the school year gets closer, COVID cases are seeing an uptick in Wood County.
“As we enter August, the numbers have been increasing and currently Wood County is under a substantial concern level,” the letter continued. “With school opening the end of August, we are faced with another difficult decision.”
At the last meeting of Wood County school superintendents, it was agreed that the schools would “provide a similar stance” as the new year begins.
Following guidance from the CDC, the Ohio Department of Health, and Wood County Health Department, it was decided the districts will recommend – but not require – masks in school for students and staff regardless of vaccination status.
Masks, however, will be required on buses regardless of vaccination status.
Scruci said he will make those recommendations to the school board when it meets next Tuesday.
“We will remain in this status until the conditions dictate otherwise,” he said. “Flexibility and patience will again be important.”
The district will maintain protocols for physical distancing of 3 feet or more whenever possible, frequent handwashing, the COVID reporting process, cleaning of facilities, contact tracing, diagnostics and screening, vaccination information, and accommodations for children with special needs.
“Again, our goal and hope this year will be to keep our students in person and in school all year,” the letter stated.
Earlier this summer, Scruci said, “We know the best way for kids to learn is to have them in the classroom, in front of teachers.”
Last month, Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Robison said he has two primary goals for local schools this coming year – keeping kids safe and in the classroom.
The best way to do that is for parents to get their children 12 years and older vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Robison.
Transmission in classrooms was very rare last year, the health commissioner said. Masks were required in Bowling Green classrooms last school year.
“There were just a handful of times” when a new COVID case could be traced back to spread in a classroom, Robison said.
But unlike last year, the Delta variant of COVID-19 is being seen in many regions – including in children who are not eligible yet for vaccines.
The variant poses great challenges since it is 50% more transmissible than the U.K. variant, which is 50% more transmissible than the original strain.
