KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kearney School District Board of Education hit a stalemate in its discussion Tuesday night regarding universal masking in the classroom.
Superintendent Todd White recommended indoor, universal masking of all students, staff and visitors. The requirement would have remained in effect until new case counts in Clay County remain in the " yellow status" for three consecutive weeks, at which time board would reconsider universal masking.
However, the board voted, 3-3-1 with board member Dan Holloway abstaining. He said he opted not to vote because there were "only two options" and there should have been a third that highly recommended masking.
A district spokesperson said officials are "clarifying" next steps following the vote.
White, who attended the meeting via Zoom due to testing positive for COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated, said that the board has to ensure “consistent, in-person school attendance.”
To do that, he said, the district needs to continue “taking appropriate health measures.” The biggest concern, according to White, is the length of quarantines.
During the previous school year when quarantine periods ranged from 10 to 14 days for those in close contact to a positive case, White said, there were more than 1,800 quarantines, or roughly 14,000 days of in-person instruction lost.
"We know that a computer is not a substitute for a teacher and in-person learning consistently in the cadence that we’ve become accustomed to is absolutely important," White said.
Parent Sarah Parish, who also is a scientist, told the board she believes its members are “ethically bound to act in the best interest” of students and staff. Masking, social distancing and other mitigation measures, she said, are “the only path out of the unprecedented time in which we find ourselves.”
However, Parent Megan Lewis asked why staff and parents weren’t surveyed about masking and said she hoped masks would be made optional.
“When there are risks involved, we the parents must be involved… How will we ever know what the best option is if we continue to keep sticking to the same scenario?” Lewis said.
Board President Mark Kelly later questioned if the district doesn’t implement a mask mandate and a student dies or develops “aggressive COVID,” would the district be responsible.
“We have to ask ourselves that too,” Kelly said. “And that’s on our shoulders.”
Parent Alyssa Palmer told the board that five of her seven children are enrolled in Kearney schools, and she cares about her children and their individuality.
“I care about their personalities," Palmer said, "and I want those to shine. And I don’t want their futures crushed by what we are allowing… [I’m] demanding that right be given back to us and parents who know our children.”
Public comment was limited to 15 minutes total. Requests to address the board were due by 1 p.m. Tuesday.
Residents who spoke at a July school board meeting were largely opposed to a mask mandate.
