Boise School District solicits feedback from parents on proposal to remove mask mandates
Boise School District officials plan to propose an updated health and safety plan later this month that makes masks optional for students and staff, and is asking parents, students and staff members for feedback.
The plan — which is expected to be presented to the school board at its Feb. 14 meeting — does not propose a specific date the district could move to a mask-optional policy and adopt the other protocols. It said the decision will be made based on factors including community transmission, absence rates and feedback from public health officials.
The other parts of the district’s proposed health and safety plan include returning to pre-pandemic visitor and volunteer protocols, reinstating pre-pandemic school activities and implementing and following the illness procedure guidelines. Those guidelines detail when students should stay home based on certain symptoms, and said someone may return to school based on health care providers’ instructions.
Under the proposed plan, the district would continue to monitor national and local guidance from public health professionals to assess if it needed to “transition back to a pandemic plan.”
In an email sent to parents Friday, the district included a survey that includes a presentation on the proposed plan and questions on whether they support or oppose certain changes. The survey also asks about the mitigation strategies they consider to be most important.
Boise schools one of few in Idaho with mask mandates
The Boise School District is one of the few districts in Idaho that have had a mask mandate in place for the whole school year. Other school districts in the Treasure Valley, such as West Ada, lifted their mandates after COVID-19 vaccines became available for kids 5-11, while many other districts have not had one all year.
Debates over mask mandates in schools have stirred tension for months. Parents who want mask-optional policies have argued that they should be making the decisions on the health protocols their kids follow. Those in support of a mask mandate have said masks will help to keep their kids and the community safe.
In December, Boise School District officials planned to propose that the board consider moving to a mask-recommended policy for unvaccinated students and staff and a mask-optional policy for those who received the COVID-19 vaccine. The administration planned to give different options for implementation of the policy, including one as early as Jan. 10, when students returned from winter break.
But due to the spread of the omicron variant and high levels of virus transmission in the Treasure Valley, the proposal shifted as health officials recommended the district hold off on lifting the requirement. Administration officials said at the time they would revisit the mandate at the February meeting and work to move from a pandemic plan to an endemic plan.
Since students returned to school after winter break, the Boise School District has reported high numbers of COVID-19 infections, but they appear to be declining, according to the most recent data.
During the week of Jan. 31, the district reported 263 positive cases. A few weeks earlier, during the week of Jan. 17, data showed nearly 1,000 positive cases.
