Dr. Nichols: “I think the best decision is to start with masks optional”

School district expected to release COVID re-entry plan and procedures today

MADISON – Madison City Schools Superintendent of Education Dr. Ed Nichols took issue Thursday with the state health officer and Madison County health officer for passing the buck to the local education leaders on the issue of masking in public schools.

Madison City Schools will apply a mask-optional procedure for all campuses when the 2021-2022 school year opens for students on Aug. 4, a decision reaffirmed by Nichols at yesterday’s school board meeting.

Nichols stated he sent a letter Thursday to State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris and Madison County Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers asking several questions concerning the issue. “My first question is, if they feel strongly about masking why have they not mandated it,” he asked. “If they do not have the authority to do that, and think the governor is wrong, why have they not addressed that?”

Gov. Kay Ivey recently said she does not think Alabama schools need a mask mandate to reopen safely. The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) disagreed this week saying they recommend all persons in schools wear masks as part of layered approach to reduce the spread of this virus, but ultimately left the decision up to the local school districts.

“I take it personal for them to tell us we have to make that decision as educators. Last year at this time we had a mandate to make people wear people masks and we do not have that this year.” Nichols said. “But I have been given that task, along with the other 140 superintendents in the state, and I am doing my best to make the best decision I can. Today, I think the best decision is to start with masks optional.”

Scott Newberry, who is a parent of a student at Rainbow Elementary, was one of a few parents who addressed the school board Thursday asking for masks to be required for all school open house events on Aug. 2 and the start of school. He cited a rise in local COVID cases caused by the Delta variant. “Children under 12 have no protection from Delta unless all of their peers mask,” he told the school board.

In addition to the mask issue, another parent spoke concerning the school district’s decision not to offer a virtual option this year.

Alabama Department of Education has canceled requirements for virtual options for grades K-12. MCS therefore will return to the regular school option and won’t offer virtual instruction for grades K-8.

“What if our two younger kids, who are unable to be vaccinated right now, what if they contract this virus through no fault of their own?” he asked. He also asked what happens if a student must be quarantined without having the virtual option available?

Nichols said the school district will release its re-entry plan today. He said it will address procedures and protocols, including what happens when a student gets COVID, or must be quarantined and how they will be able to make up schoolwork.

“We will work through Schoology and with our teachers to develop a plan our curriculum staff feels is good to help anyone that has to be quarantined,” he said. Nichols added that more information will be provided in the re-entry plan.

Addressing the parents who want all students to return to school next week wearing masks, Nichols said the district is considering some options, but implementing a universal masking mandate for the start of the school year is not one of them — at this point. He did indicate that could change depending on possible mandates by state or local government.

“It is not an easy decision,” Nichols said. “Last year, when we were at, or near, the infection rate we are now, and I choose to start the school year virtual while 137 other school districts in the state went face-to-face. They did it without any problem. If I knew then what I know now, I would have started (with in-campus instruction) the first day of school last year. We have learned some things since then.”

Nichols did say they are looking into some other options. “We had some parents request we look at the option of grouping elementary students together in classes whose parents want them to wear a mask compared to those who do not,” he said. “We are looking into that.”

Nichols said there are only nine school districts in the state out of 140 that have decided to start with masks. “I feel good about where we are starting right now, if I didn’t, I would make a change in that,” he added. “I would like to tell folks we will be able to go through the entire school year and not make any changes, but I cannot say that. If I need to make a change based on further information we receive, I am open to doing that.”

Nichols also told the school board the district reached the 12,000 students mark this week after adding around 1,500 new students over the summer. “Almost half of those are kindergarten and pre-k students,” he said. “We have less than 400 students who have not re-enrolled from last year.”

He said the school district is growing at its pre-COVID rate.

“We are getting back to normal with that,” he said. “Because of this, we are watching each grade level and having to make some adjustments with teachers and class sizes. We have been adding about 80 new students a day.”