WDE Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow comments on masks in public schools and possible mandates on staff

The requirement for the use of masks in public schools has been an issue of debate across the United States even before the academic year began. Sheridan County’s school districts are no exception to the debate. 

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse program, Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Jillian Balow called it the “kitchen table education issue.” 

When the virus began to move through the country, the Wyoming Department of Education initiated a policy of local control, allowing the school boards to make the decisions regarding masks. According to Balow, the tactic affords flexibility in rural areas.

On Saturday Dec. 18, Wyoming joined a coalition of states requesting the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate the nationwide stay of the vaccine mandate issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that mandates vaccines of private Wyoming businesses with over 100 employees. 

Balow told listeners she has yet to hear about any COVID-19 vaccine mandates imposed on students of K-12 schools, but the mandates may affect staff depending on the court’s ruling. 

In Sheridan County, the number of cases of COVID has been on a decline until recently. Recent numbers indicate a slight incline. As anxiety around the spread of the omicron variant increases, the challenge of the decision to reinstate mask policies continues to depend on health metrics, public health recommendations and the local district school boards.