No Masks for SCSD#3 Arvada-Clearmont

The masks mandate was discussed at the Arvada-Clearmont School Board work session at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The board made the decision not to mandate masks for students and staff this school year, at least for now.

Acting Superintendent Boyd Brown said that A/C School started the school without the mandate, and Dr. Ian Hunter, Sheridan, sent District #3 a letter stating that due to the small class sizes, students can better social distance at District #3, so at the present time masks are not recommended for the District. “If county health recommends masks, A/C will reinstate them,” Brown said.

School Districts #1 and #2 have put the mandate back in, Brown said and added that if District #3 sees a need to reinstate it they will. Clearmont works with three hospitals, Sheridan, Buffalo and Gillette. Sheridan is seeing a spike in cases, but Johnson County and Campbell County hospitals are in good shape. Campbell County Schools are not recommending masks, and did not mandate masks last year.

The school has made some adjustments, the rooms are disinfected twice daily, students are encouraged to social distance and frequently wash hands, temperatures for students and staff are taken in the mornings, and students who are feeling ill are asked to stay at home.

Although some staff and students have been isolated or quarantined for the virus since school started, all staff are now back in the class room. “I feel we are doing a good job,” Brown said.

Vice Chairman Misty Moore felt that masks should be required.

“We bear a responsibility of any adverse outcomes,” She told the board. “If we don’t mandate we accept the responsibility for not reducing the risk if someone should fall ill.”

Trustee Trinity Lewis felt that parents and staff are intelligent and informed, and the board should continue to empower parents to make decisions for their own children.

Clerk Wade Betz said, “Just because we don’t mandate the masks, doesn’t mean kids can’t wear masks. It offends me when someone says if my family is vaccinated, we still have to wear masks. I will not subject my kids or my school to a mask mandate. No one can convince me that a simple handkerchief will keep a virus from entering my body.”

Betz also felt that the schools were not super spreaders, as some people felt. He had this to say.

Betz added, “This year we have options we didn’t have last year. And, this can be our chance to show that our protocols are working.”

Board Chairman Amy Vineyard said, “I want to give the people a choice. Parents know what’s best for their children. They have options, public school, home school, or private school…we don’t want to take away their individuality.”

After the mask mandate discussion, Brown said that he felt it was “a wonderful start of school. I’ve had a lot of interaction with the students, their behavior is exemplary. You can be proud of your students,” he added.

The board took a short break, and they Clear Creek Rec District reported that they had repaired the roof on the old brick building and that they were starting Peewee Volleyball on September 20^th. The board also hired Amy Rowe as the administrative assistant.

The A/C Board reconvened for the regular meeting at 7 p.m. with one guest, Cody Ramsay, pastor of Clearmont Community Church present.

Activities director Jennifer Betz reported that there were no Covid cases on the A/C Volleyball team, and parents understand it is a day by day process. She added that the planned Welcome Back BBQ that the FFA was hosting has changed from an indoor venue to an outdoor one due to Covid concerns.

The board also voted to accept the resolution to not teach Critical Race Theory, and the resolution stated that: Whereas the mission of SCSD #3 is, “Empowering students to succeed as life long learners through diverse and individual educational opportunities” Whereas Critical Race Theory and the 1619 Project go outside of the guidelines established in the mission statement, Sheridan County School District #3 will NOT implement ‘Critical Race Theory, also called CRT, or the 1619 project, in our schools, not under that name or by any other name.”

Cody Ramsay, Pastor, spoke to the board about his feelings on the CRT, saying that is a liberal college way of thinking. “I respect other cultures and I don’t judge people by the color of their skin. This CRT is a Marxist ideology. I applaud the school board on this stance. I needed to come and express support for this resolution.”

In other business the board voted to reinstate the Lower Powder River bus route, approved a home school application, and approved returning out of District students. Maintenance man Jay Buhr reported that the maintenance shop building is finished. The next meeting will be Oct. 13 at 7 p.m.