The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1443960
five days before they can come back to school? That's a decision we need to make. Do we want to stay status quo on that? Or do we want to change it to mask mandate? " said Chris Satterfield. Assistant Superintendent Dana Deffendoll said, "We are all okay and comfortable with someone coming back day six from a quarantine. Because if they're not symptomatic, as you said, the incubation pe- riod is much shorter now, so we're comfortable with that. What if someone has been positive, and is going to return on day six? That's a little bit scarier. And we're afraid that it will, you know, get more pos- itive, more quarantines. It's a ripple effect. But then the is- sue becomes if we said, okay, let's put a mask on that. Every- one who's coming back from a positive, but not from quaran- tine, well, now you're anyone walking around with the mask coming back from COVID? I don't know if people would care or not. But it is a possibil- ity that people wouldn't want their child, you know, with any kind of scarlet letter." Satterfield said what he had seen from the quarantine in- formation he had been given was most happened during lunch. At a previous meeting, Chris McKinney had asked why they were quarantining at six feet in the cafeteria in- stead of three feet like the rest of the school. Deffendoll said they looked at the tracing data and found students that were three feet away often would test posi- tive, but the next person over, which would be six feet away, seldom tested positive. She said another consideration was on school buses, with those behind someone being quarantined and that was a recommended change. Then the discussion turned to students testing positive re- turning after six days, would they be required to wear a mask. Dave Waltz asked if they had gotten guidance on if pos- itive asymptomatic students could still spread COVID. "We don't know," said Sat- terfield. Deffendall said when she had COVID, she still felt bad at day six. "I can't imagine that I'm not contagious when I feel that bad. I'm not trying to say that it's the best decision. I'm just talking to you guys." Satterfield said the CDC's recommendation is for them to come back after day five with no symptoms. He add- ed, "No fever is a key." Superintendent Dr. Su- zanne Blake asked, "That is for the positives, not the quar- antines? " "I don't think we are going to have parents who are going to send their kids to school knowing they are sick," said McKinney. Both Blake and Deffendoll disagreed with McKinney about that. "So the positive can return after no more symptoms? " asked Blake. Waltz said, "If we bring it back to school, then the school becomes the epicen- ter." A fter a lengthy discussion, Satterfield said, "My thing is about the kids in school. I mean, that's, I mean, if you've seen the study out yesterday, you know, from the Behavior- al Institute, the rate of suicide is skyrocketing in teenagers. That's because no contact. . .I think day six we bring them back and then if it chang- es and starts to blow up, we can always peel back and say 'hey.'" Deffendoll asked if anyone was concerned about bringing students back on day six. "I'm a little concerned if they tested positive," said Waltz. "If they still test posi- tive, they can still come back on day six right? I can see that they're out of quarantine and they have exhausted their quarantine up till day six. But continue to test positive and then coming back to the school troubles me." Deffendoll said the symp- toms must be resolved and improving for 24 hours. "That was one of the big keys, the CDC said no fever for 24 hours," said Satterfield. McKinney summarized their discussions, "so three feet everywhere with the ex- ception of transportation, masks are optional. All stu- dents can return on day six, along with ECA. Participate in ECA is day six. All exemptions stay in place. Does that cover everything? " Satterfield added not quar- antining kids sitting behind someone who tests positive on the school bus. Potter asked, "Are kids who tested positive wearing a mask? " "I still say masks are option- al," said McKinney. "Masks need to be option- al," said Satterfield. "I think if we let him come back on day six, and we don't at least have a mask on him there, you know, we could end up with a problem there," said Potter. "If we've got a student that is asymptomatic, they've test- ed positive, and they're as- ymptomatic, we're still tell- ing them that they're either going to have to stay home for 10 days, or they're going to have to wear a mask for five," said McKinney. "My biggest thing is get the kids back in school," said Sat- terfield. Deffendoll said, "If we hear feedback that this had been the wrong call. . ." "Then we can scale it back," said Satterfield. Discussion then included what is defined as being vac- cinated. McKinney, Satterfield and Waltz all said they were fine with fully vaccinated being two shots. McKinney moved to make the changes to three feet ev- erywhere, also no quarantine for a student behind a positive test and coming back on day 6 with no masks. "So you're talking about coming back on day six, positive or quarantine, and masks are optional for day six through 10," said Potter. "Yes," said McKinney. "I will just add that I'm not happy with that part of it. But if we keep a close eye like we have been on our numbers, and any spiking of any kind of that, this board and this ad- ministration and all the lead- ership should be allowed to take a quick, decisive action to make adjustments. It's not ideal, nothing is ideal. So I'm okay with it right now," said Waltz. "I know they have been do- ing a good job of watching all those numbers and of track- ing all that, but still just makes me awful nervous. Particular- ly on the positive group com- ing back like that. But I agree with Dave. We just have to make sure that if we have to have an emergency meeting, we will just have to do it," said Potter. "We can do it," said Satter- field. The motion passed 4-1, with Potter voting against it. In other business, the board approved hiring an adminis- trative assistant at a salary of $28,943, based on 8 hours a day for 242 days at $14.95 an hour in the first year. The recommendation came from a Baker Tilly study of the cen- tral office work flow. The board also approved repair of roof leaks at the Pe- tersburg Elementary School that have a cost of $ 6,114,35. It also included having a sec- tion of the middle school roof coated this summer for a price of $120,896.85. Both proj- ects are to be done by NIX of Poseyville. They also approved a $16,577.09 replacement and upgrade of the electrical pan- el at the Old Petersburg Gym. Two other projects include improving the lighting in the high school auditorium. The auditorium underwent a major renovation that included new flooring, lighting and a new curtain. Blake said during a recent performance, it was noticed there are some dark spots on the stage. She said that could be remedied by adding four lights at a cost of about $2,460. They also ap- proved at the same time buy- ing a new 32 channel mixer at a cost of $ 3,000. The current mixer is more than 20 years old. In personnel, the board vot- ed to hire Dustin Traylor as the Pike Central varsity soft- ball coach. The next meeting is sched- uled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb- ruary 8. SCHOOL Continued from page 1 Houchins puts up flags Sonny Houchins puts up American flags along Main St. in Petersburg for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Houch- ins took on the task of putting up the American flags after the Jaycees club disbanded. A-4 Wednesday, Januar y 19, 2022 The Press-Dispatch LOCAL Call: 812-354-8500 Email: news@pressdispatch.net or bring in a hard copy: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Smile With Confidence Again! Dr. Haviland Watkins DMD Dr. Kenneth R. Trout- man DDS, FAGD 202 E. 17th Street HUNTINGBURG 812-683-2006 11 E. Main Street WASHINGTON 812-254-7922 Visit our website: www.TroutmanFamilyDentistry.com Dental implants look and function just like your real teeth, so you can enjoy all the foods you love with comfort and confidence. We offer a full range of dental care services dental implants • general dentistry teeth whitening • cosmetic dentistry gum disease treatment Contact us today to schedule your free consultation