What is the moral responsibility of a school district?

Here we are. Where we all didn't want to be - again. Cases are rising. And rising rapidly, especially here in Wake County and the state of NC. 

Cases that are known from the Wake County Public School System COVID Dashboard showed a rate almost double that of the public the week of May 2nd. And the clusters and quarantines are no longer being tracked on their dashboard. 

Dropping tracking, testing requirements and other non-invasive mitigation measures when masks became optional is illogical. Nothing was put in place for when/if mask requirements needed to come back. Nothing was put in place to make it clear to those who are higher risk how to request accommodations for additional precautions. And those who tried were met with the typical 504 Plan/IEP walls WCPSS is known for. But, all of this has 'worked' thus far as a wave had passed and the politics were involved.

Now we find ourselves back on the upswing. But the WCPSS School Board and Superintendent have not discussed bringing back mask requirements, as of last week's School Board meeting. What if your child is high risk? What if your family member is high risk? What of those with siblings that don't have a vaccine available? What about the 15% to 30% incidence rate of long COVID symptoms? None of that matters?

The question remains: What is the moral (or otherwise) responsibility of a school district at this point?

They are knowingly allowing transmission in schools during another surge in cases. 

They are knowingly spreading cases into the community.

Classrooms are now statistically high transmission locations. The report from the CDC stating cases from past months has children as the highest infection incidence age group. Coincidence of school age? I think not. 

Quote: "As of February 2022, approximately 75% of children and adolescents had serologic evidence of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2, with approximately one third becoming newly seropositive since December 2021. The greatest increases in seroprevalence during September 2021–February 2022, occurred in the age groups with the lowest vaccination coverage; the proportion of the U.S. population fully vaccinated by April 2022 increased with age (5–11, 28%; 12–17, 59%; 18–49, 69%; 50–64, 80%; and ≥65 years, 90%)."

"See? Masks don't work," many may say. But they did. And they do. As a global community, this virus now evades masks and vaccinations because of it's many variants. Because it was allowed to spread rapid fire, which leads to mutations. 

Remember how WCPSS used the ABC Collaborative as their guidance? Well, their spring report shows the benefits of masks. This one suggests that in-school transmission is lessened by masking (reducing link between primary/secondary cases). 

ABC Collaborative provides a mitigation calculator based on current community transmission rates and size of the school district. Plugging in WCPSS stats as of today, May 9th, here's what it shows:

Screaming data. Is anyone listening?

It's clear no one is taking transmission in school seriously. Or very few are. The majority want to wish away COVID, but sadly folks, it doesn't work that way. 

Maybe you are not concerned for your family or your students. But you likely know many who have high risk conditions that may have a worse outcome from COVID. Yes, we need to make decisions for our families. 

However, when is it a moral obligation of a school district to step in and stop transmission and community spread? When do they brave up, face the politics and the naysayers and do what will save lives? Is everyone supposed to continue through the remainder of the year (and get those EOGs) without any choice and gamble on the risks associated? 

This is their responsibility to some degree. The cases and the cases that follow and are linked to those from school are a direct result of their inaction. Are all parents willing to accept this?

And before you answer, remember this is expected to continue. Waves every six months or so. Some worse than others. Have you followed the brilliant minds of scientists, doctors, nurses, epidemiologists and researchers who have dedicated 2.5 years to this pandemic? They are predicting a dire fall: 100 million cases.

Our school districts would be wise to be transparent with their plans for universal masking in the future. And if they aren't discussing it now, they need to start immediately. 

We've had our moment to unmask and relax and, for most, accept this is 'not going anywhere'. The time is now to have another moment - one that recognizes 'not going anywhere' means our school districts have an obligation to protect their students, staff and the community. 

So, is it their moral responsibility? Their professional responsibility? What will it take to get a plan in place? Ask. Ask them. Because if the time comes - again - where we need more layered protective measures, the time to start planning is months ago. 

(Many thanks to our resident reseacher for pulling this all together.)