No changes to Volusia County Schools' mask mandate, future dependent on vaccinations

Ormond Beach Observer
News

With some Volusia County School Board members seeking additional data on the protection of masks for children, Volusia County Health Department Administrator Patricia Boswell was definitive in her recommendation: Continue with the mask mandate for now, and keep an eye on vaccination rates.

“I think at this point in time, we have to continue our measures, see what happens with the vaccine, do contingency planning in the interim and be able to go in the direction that best meets the school district’s need," Boswell said.

Boswell provided the School Board with an update on COVID-19 during its workshop on Tuesday, March 30. With no data yet on how spring break will affect COVID-19 numbers in children, and a cumulative total of 3,654 cases in people under 18 as of March 28, Boswell said cases in young people account for 8% of all COVID-19 cases. In comparison, cases involving seniors 75 years and older account for 6% and those between 65 and 74 years old account for 11%.

The 14-day positivity rate is 7.89%, and the seven-day positivity rate has risen slightly to 9.33%. Based on DOH's COVID-19 tracing, Boswell said they have been able to identify 35 cases that resulted from outbreaks in schools. Four of those involved sports teams.

School Board Member Carl Persis said he wasn't seeking immediate action regarding the district's mask mandate, but with the vaccine becoming available to all 18 and older starting Monday, April 5, the board could look toward modifying its mandate for summer school.

“We’re getting to the point, with the abundance of vaccine that’s going to be available starting next week," Persis said. "…what I wanted to do was start the conversation. That’s all.”

The latest on prom:

School Board member Jamie Haynes asked Boswell for the reasoning against holding proms — with mandatory masks — when sporting events were being held.

Boswell said it wasn't a decision made by DOH, but rather a recommendation based on CDC guidance on large gatherings. Haynes mentioned an event she saw posted on social media by a private company that plans on renting out the arena at the Volusia County Fairgrounds for four nights to hold prom for Volusia students.

Haynes cited safety and security concerns about the event and said she would feel safer letting parents and students make the choice on whether to attend a school-hosted prom.

Volusia County Schools Superintendent wasn't swayed; he said he couldn't endorse a prom where students will be in close proximity. He said he directed high school prinicipals to offer alternative ways to celebrate.

Additionally, Persis questioned why fully-vaccinated teachers would not be able to teach without a mask inside their classroom, but fully-vaccinated grandparents were given the green light to visit and hug their grandchildren by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Boswell said she would be concerned about the other students' behavior outside the classroom.

“We’re not aware of who they’re living with, so if I get infected at school as a student, I take it home to my grandmother who’s my caregiver and my caregiver dies, that’s a pretty extraordinary event for me," Boswell said.

“I would think in that case, my caregiver has been fully vaccinated or if my caregiver has not, or cannot, or doesn’t wish to be, I guess that would be the child that would continue to wear the mask," Persis replied.

School Board Chair Linda Cuthbert, who tuned into the workshop virtually, said the district should continue with its current prevention measures.

“We cannot control the behaviors of the parents and how parents and families interact with one another," Cuthbert said."...We really don’t know the dynamics, so in order to protect all of our students, no matter what medical condition they have, I’m a firm believer in the CDC recommendations.”