“PPE is key:” CGD to require face shields for staff, encourage them for students when school resumes Aug. 24

After weeks of intense discussion, state guidance and drafting “Return to Learn” plans, a local decision has been made. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows School District, and the other school districts in Wright County, will require personal protective equipment (PPE) in the form of face shields for teachers and strongly encourage them for students.

This decision which came down from the districts in the last few days was not made by any one entity. On Thursday, July 9, the Wright County Education Summit was formally convened for the first time. Present were the superintendents from CGD, Belmond-Klemme, and Eagle Grove, along with representatives from Wright County Public Health and Iowa Specialty Hospitals (ISH). CGD Superintendent Joe Nelson said about the summit, “After weeks of conversations in isolation, all involved agreed it’s time to bring everyone to the table for a county-wide discussion.”

The school officials were pleased that the local experts were 100% on board with school resuming in person for all students on a daily basis on August 24. Sandy McGrath, of Wright County Public Health, emphasized, “It’s important to get kids back in the classroom.” ISH Doctor Michael McLoughlin agreed, saying “It makes the most sense to reconvene school. To be out of school is devastating not only educationally, but also socially and nutritionally for many children.”

McLoughlin also noted that the CDC has concluded that the virus is spread “mainly from person-to-person, between people who are in close contact, and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.” The doctor explained that school is a feasible option this fall, especially because of what they now believe about the coronavirus and children. He said, “Kids don’t get infected as easily or as badly and kids aren’t as affective as transmitters.”

With that understanding, the districts knew they would need a plan in place for how to start school in the midst of a global pandemic. Most significantly, the plan involves the use of face shields or masks.  According to Nelson, at all CGD schools, face shields will be required for all faculty and staff while they are at school starting in August. Nelson added that the district will be providing the shields. Students will be strongly encouraged to wear face shields while at school, which the district is also purchasing through ISH. (Funds from the CARES Act are being used for these purchases).

Nelson summarized: “We will highly encourage our students to wear the shields we provide but ultimately our parents will need to decide one of 3 things: A. Send their student to school and use a school provided PPE, B. send their child to school without a PPE, C. keep their child at home and utilize online learning.” He added that while there will be an online option, details of that have not been hashed out yet.

The districts also discussed with the local experts what they should do in the event that a student contracts COVID. Nelson was pleased that their guidance involves sending the COVID positive student home for the quarantine period but not the rest of the class in the event the other students had been wearing their PPE. He added though, if students had elected NOT to wear face shields and a classmate becomes sick, they too will have to go home to quarantine.

Districts will also try to space seating and desks within classrooms as much as possible though they acknowledge that 6 feet spacing is not feasible if they want to keep everyone at school every day. Full details on this Return to Learn plan will be explained in a letter the district plans to send out by the end of the week.

These recommendations were endorsed by both Public Health and hospital officials. McLoughlin is confident that these steps will help mitigate the spread of COVID in schools. “The evidence shows that masking does work,” he said. “This virus is spread person to person and the best way to stop it is to put a barrier between people.”

Both Nelson and other CGD administrators were satisfied with the recommendations from public health and ISH doctors. Nelson said, “PPE is key, they tell us. I ultimately have 100% trust and confidence in accepting our local doctors’ recommendations for returning to school.” Middle School Principal Steve Haberman concurred, stating, “I think the answers they gave us represent a big win. The fact that we can continue education face to face, even if someone does get sick, is huge. Now we won’t be fighting the losing battle of starting and stopping.”

Though they now have a good foundation for heading back to school, Nelson says that nothing is set in stone. “Right now,” stressed Nelson, “the situation is still fluid. Everything could be subject to change in the next month. We are constantly monitoring and reassessing.” Though they still have a number of decisions to make regarding questions about things like busing, serving lunch and recess, the superintendent is confident that he and his staff will work together to problem-solve.

Nelson emphasizes that the district understands that parents and families will have additional stressors going into the 2020-21 school year. “We’re doing our best to address those concerns by actively listening to our employees and families.” He also acknowledges that the decision to return everyone to school will not be universally approved by everyone in our community. Nelson concluded, “Ultimately our final decision came down to trusting our highly respected local health care professionals’ guidance and recommendations.”