To Mask or Not to Mask: SMSD changed the mask policy from mandatory to optional for all middle and high schools, active since Feb. 16

The SMSD Board of Education voted to return to the 3% rule — where masks will be optional when less than 3% of the school is out with COVID-19— at their meeting on Feb. 14.

East COVID-19 cases have been under the 3% limit for the past two weeks, so masks will become optional on Feb. 16, as stated in the board meeting. Beyond the school itself, COVID-19 cases have dropped drastically in Johnson County, with 438 positive cases out of 100,000 people — giving the district pretenses to move away from mandatory masking.

The first attempt to move to optional masking occurred on Jan. 5 — the first day back from winter break. However, after the first day, masks were required again, with case numbers passing 8% within the week.

As of now, the district’s main goal is to keep students in school, whether masked or not.

“We prioritize keeping students safe and in school,” Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard said in a letter to parents on Dec. 31.

Associate Principal Dr. Susan Leonard believes that East is able to go to mask-optional due to a significant drop in the rate of cases amongst East’s students

 “We have really not seen significant impacts to our attendance [due to COVID-19],” Dr. Leonard said. “We had that kind of surge, and we panicked. But we are not struggling like we were.” 

According to the Johnson County Health Department, the COVID-19 Omicron surge is at a more controllable level.

Apart from the district, Prairie Village and Roeland Park have decided to extend their mask mandates until March 16. This is due to the continuing rise in COVID-19 cases and deaths in the cities.

According to a study conducted by Kaiser Family Foundation, 75% of Americans feel tired of having to live in the state of a pandemic. A survey conducted by Monmouth University reported that 70% of Americans agree with the statement: “It’s time we accept that COVID is here to stay, and we need to get on with our lives.”

Politicians are also wanting to get rid of masks. The first state to get rid of mask mandates was New Jersey on Feb. 6, which started a trend in other states. Since then, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Oregon and New York have revoked their mask mandates. 

The Johnson County area has an average of 336 new cases each day with 59% of the residents are vaccinated, according to Mayo Clinic. In an Instagram poll of 345 students, 91% said they’ve received the COVID-19 vaccine.

In an Instagram poll of 330 East students, 48% believe that masks shouldn’t be required.

Sophomore Eve Benditt disagrees with the lifting of the mask mandate because she thinks it puts students at risk of contracting COVID-19.

“I don’t think that we should be masked once we’re at or below the 3% [positive COVID-19 case rate],” Benditt said.”I think it’s proven to be effective. I mean, there’s countless studies on why masks work.”

According to statistics from the KCDHE, there was an increase in absences due to COVID-19 cases because of the district’s mask optional policies in January.

Chemistry teacher Susan Hallstrom also believes masks should be required to protect students who can’t get the vaccine due to health reasons or with auto-immune disorders.

“So this kid has cancer and can’t get [the vaccine],” Hallstrom said. “It’s even more important that we wear masks for her.”

Sophomore John Mendy believes that masks shouldn’t be required.

“I think that one of the big things about masks is that a lot of people at the school are vaccinated. [A mask is] not something we’re gonna wear during PE,” Mendy said. “You’ve been exposed to maybe 50 other kids, and then you’re going throughout the rest of your day where you’re going to be around another 100, 150 to 200 kids.” 

However, Mendy believes that masks become ineffective when you are around so many people, constantly getting exposed. He also believes that enough kids at East are vaccinated so they don’t need to be worn.

“I think that one of the big things about masks is that a lot of people at the school are vaccinated,” Mendy said. “So I don’t really think that it should be a requirement.”

Still, the CDC recommends that everyone continues to wear masks. Even for those who are vaccinated, masks can make the wearer more than 70% likely to not contract COVID-19 when exposed.

The district guidelines are not based on opinion but on facts and case statistics, according to David Smith, Chief Communications Officer at SMSD.

“The district does not have an ‘opinion’ on masks,” Smith said. “Whether to continue the mask mandate or not in our schools is a board of education decision.”