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CCSD Teacher Group Requests School Board Implement Mask Mandate

Teachers from the Carroll Community School District’s (CCSD) attendance centers addressed the Board of Education during their meeting last (Monday) night to request school officials reconsider their optional face covering policy for students and staff. Instructional Coach, Becky Boes, opened discussion on the topic during the public forum.

Prior to the start of the school year, the school board narrowly approved a Return to Learn Plan that strongly recommends face coverings but falls short of making them mandatory. According to Jesse Strong, a middle school reading teacher, the number of students wearing masks is far lower than they expected.

Lynn Dvorak, an elementary special education instructor, said students are struggling educationally when forced to quarantine due to a confirmed exposure. She used drops in reading proficiency at the elementary school as an example.

As of Monday, only two students currently have a positive COVID-19 test but 55 students and four teachers were in quarantine due to confirmed exposures to an infected individual, according to Superintendent, Dr. Casey Berlau. Previously, students would be forced to quarantine if exposed, regardless of if they were wearing a mask. Updated guidance from the state allows students to forgo a quarantine if both individuals were wearing masks during contact. Algona Community School Board member and Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) representative, Todd Louwagie, attended Monday’s meeting through Zoom. He says Algona started the year recommending masks but struggled with absenteeism. He says that changed after their board implemented a mask mandate nearly three weeks ago.

Seven people spoke during the public form, and they all requested the board implement a mask mandate for the district. The board is prohibited from taking action on items not listed on the agenda but indicated they would take the teachers’ comments and concerns into consideration.

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