Unit 40 Curriculum Committee Discusses Masks, Plans for the New School Year

Effingham Unit 40 curriculum committee members are debating some weighty issues as the start of the school year approaches.

One was the issue of masks. The State has mandated that students must wear masks, but there has been a lot of pushback from some in the public to the requirement. Members of the committee discussed a requirement that, if someone objects to their child wearing a mask, they will have to utilize remote learning, not in-person instruction. Unit 40 board member Robin Klosterman said, "It's a public health issue; if we're going to bring (students) back, we have to be committed to the masks."

In how to handle disobedience to the requirement of masks, Effingham High School Principal Kurt Roberts urged treating the issue as a health policy, not a discipline issue. Roberts suggested treating it similar to when students aren't immunized or don't get their physicals.

Exceptions to the requirement could include Speech classes for primary grade students or certain special needs kids. Early Learning Center Principal Jennifer Fox said those scenarios are where face shields could be considered so teachers can see the mouths of students and how they are forming words. Foreign language instruction is also a consideration where masks might impair instruction.

As to face shields rather than face masks, guidelines from the State are indicating shields are not as effective in preventing the potential spread of the virus.

There was discussion of how to make lunch time and bus riding successful experiences. The state guidelines are no more than 50 passengers on a bus, and social distancing is also a consideration during lunch periods, even how geographically where students will be seated and how they will be allowed in and out of the lunch rooms. The same thought is being given to buildings where students pass from one classroom to another.

The committee also discussed the instructional day, and how to accommodate both in-person and remote learning. State guidelines are requiring five hours of school per day. A final decision on the issue can't be made until the District knows how many students they'll have in each category. That decision will likely be made sometime in July to leave enough time to finalize instruction plans before the school year begins in August.