Hendry County School Board will stick to no-mask mandates in schools

Low number of covid cases reported in the district since school began

Posted 8/18/21

LABELLE -- With student reported COVID-19 cases at some of Hendry County schools just after schools’ opening Aug. 10, 2021...

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Hendry County School Board will stick to no-mask mandates in schools

Low number of covid cases reported in the district since school began

Posted

LABELLE -- With student reported COVID-19 cases at some of Hendry County schools just after schools’ opening Aug. 10, 2021 Hendry County School Board Superintendent Michael Swindle reiterated the School District’s covid policy. 

Swindle is firmly behind the Florida Board of Education’s promotion of Gov. DeSantis’ directive that masks and vaccinations for children or adults will not be mandated at school districts in the state. 

Quarantine and testing guidelines put forth by the state are being followed, Swindle said during the regular Hendry County School Board meeting Aug. 17., 2021.

“So, until the guidelines change I have no desire to change that,” he said. “Even though we’ve been dealing with this for over a year, it is still an evolving situation. Data changes. Environment changes. The needs of our employees’ changes. We’re doing the best we can to take care of students and teachers.” 

Those guidelines include testing and quarantining policies, which Swindle said the school district adheres too.

Swindle acknowledged there is a better-than-average chance for the virus to be contracted at schools, but all facilities are doing due diligence to keep everyone safe with frequent sanitation events, encouraging hand-washing and social distancing. 

Schools are natural breeding grounds for viral transmissions, he said, noting that there are other things floating around besides covid that can make students and staff sick. 

As for masks, Swindle believes that will work itself out on its own without interference by the school district by letting parents and students decide for themselves to mask or not. 

He observed many parents wearing masks at the open houses held at the schools and that he passed a school bus and noticed children masked apparently of their own volition. 

Swindle recommended people visit the school district’s covid dashboard which is updated frequently to get the latest statistics. 

Board member Paul Samerdyke had put forth the question about covid policy after agenda items had been addressed by the board, noting the numbers of cases was very low. 

“I wanted the public to know what is going on in our schools,” he said. “It’s about the welfare of our children.” 

Samerdyke also inquired about news stories he’d heard about shortages of school bus drivers due to covid outbreaks.

“I was just wondering how we are faring with our bus drivers,” he said.

Swindle said the district was down just a couple of drivers on both sides of the county. Efforts are being made to attract potential applicants through advertisements and fliers. 

“The team mechanics and route managers step in as needed if covid gets a driver sick,” he said. “The team overall makes it happen.”

covid, Hendry County School District, schools, children, teachers, masks, vaccinations, Florida Department of Health

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