Better late than never ?
So with about 95 percent of its school year completed, the Greenwood School District will now change its policy on the mandatory wearing of face masks. Effective May 24, mask use will be optional rather than required, which is, of course, what it always was before any of us ever heard of COVID-19.
It seems almost silly to change a health-driven policy with only nine school days left on the calendar. If the rule was needed this long to diminish virus spread between students and staff, one would think having everyone wear them another two weeks would not be that much of a bother. Granted, coronavirus case numbers are down from where they were late in 2020, but again, nine days? Really?
Looking at it from another perspective, though, there could be some good that comes of this late action. Surely there has been some year-long antimasking sentiment among the public, and that has only surged as the coronavirus’ threat has waned. Especially with Loyal making a decision to go optional with masks a few weeks ago, the interest in a similar policy switch for Greenwood has only grown. In listening to the sizeable group of parents who came to its Monday night meeting and altering the policy in response to their request, the Board of Education showed it was willing to bend a heretofore hard and fast rule. Such comproby mise is almost unheard of in this day and age of divisiveness, so it is refreshing to see someone meet in the middle. Some in attendance wanted the Board to change the policy to take effect even sooner -- such as immediately -- so they weren’t totally satisfied, but we doubt Board members either were completely comfortable in changing a rule that has played a large part in allowing school to be held in-person, five days a week, for almost the whole year. Give and take. What a novel concept, huh?
It can only be with utmost hope for all of us that when school resumes in September, face masks won’t need to be on any Board’s agenda. Schools will likely be considering some longterm alterations in standard practices to promote healthier environments, as the simple common cold and seasonal flu outbreaks every year lead to more absences than are necessary. But with local COVID-19 vaccination rates slowly climbing and a summer of outdoor time at hand to help cut off the virus’ transmission paths, the plug may finally be pulled on this pandemic.
If so, credit the Greenwood Board with extending an olive branch to those families who think a face mask rule is no longer needed. Nine day isn’t much, but it’s at least an effort to recognize that not everyone has the same views on what has become as much a toxic political issue as it is a health one.
