By TARA KENNEDY/For The herald — As of March 12, 2022 at 12 AM, the Oakridge schools are putting the choice of wearing face masks back into the hands of the students and staff. Reta Doland, Oakridge School District Superintendent, held an online meeting on March 9th outlining the plan.
All students have the choice to no longer wear face masks or to continue wearing them. Staff members and volunteers of the school district who are vaccinated also may choose to not wear face masks.
Number of cases are falling in Lane County
Covid-19 cases are falling and there is a pause on contact tracing and quarantining. Cohorting, or groups of students and staff within a school building who interact mostly only with each other, will continue during meal times and in the classroom. Students and staff showing symptoms or a positive test for Covid will be asked to isolate for five days.
Overwhelming response signals desire for choice
Results of a survey sent to parents, students and staff, reported a 91% vote of “yes” to mask wearing being a choice. One major concern of the survey was ‘mask bullying’ of those students or staff who continue to wear masks. Reta Doland stated clearly that such behavior in the schools would not be tolerated.
The Oakridge School District will continue to provide masks for students and staff who want them, offer onsite tests, have daily temperature check-ins, and frequent sanitizing of surfaces and restrooms. Anyone needing more information about Covid-19 can contact the Covid Case Support Hotline at (866) 917-8881.
Tara Kennedy is a graduate of the University of Oregon, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature. She currently works for the Oakridge School District as an Educational Assistant.
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
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