LCSD1 Board of Trustees hold a special meeting and vote for a mask protocol

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) - Controversy stirred on Wednesday evening when LCSD1 voted to re-instate a mask protocol based on rising state and county Covid-19 case numbers among students and staff.

The Board of Trustees voted yes on an addendum to their “Smart Start” program, which states that schools will implement PPE requirements when the county guidelines are in orange or red.

According to the CDC state and county tracker, it is currently in red.

Students and staff will now have to wear masks indoors when social distancing is not possible.

LCSD1 staff and students quarantine numbers have continued to rise in the 2 weeks that school has opened, a stark contrast to last year’s number.

“I think one of the huge benefits was that our board heard from many members of the community as they have for the last couple of months. And certainly, our goal is around quarantining and with our numbers hitting almost one-thousand, quarantining since school opened, we felt that it was really important to stay committed to ur goal which was to stay in school,” said Superintendent Dr. Margaret Crespo.

LCSD1 Superintendent Dr. Margaret Crespo states the “Big 4” of hand washing, staying home if sick, masking and a 6-foot social distance helps in curbing these numbers.

The Zoom meeting Wednesday was open to public comment. Pediatricians, the Wyoming health department, parents and community members voiced their data, opinions and concerns.

LCSD1 will continue with the strategy that kept kids in schools last year.

“Our goal is to keep kids in school the entire year, and in order to do that, we’re going to come together as a community asking and having a mask protocol moving forward. And then, when things get better, we’ll be able to unmask,” said Crespo.

Crespo recognizes some find it an inconvenience, and many don’t want to wear a mask.

“We also recognize we are a community, and we have to stick together if we want our students to stay in school. Our big four last year kept us in school and we want to remain in school this year and know those four strategies work,” said Crespo.

Copyright 2021 Wyoming News Now. All rights reserved.