Masking in Seattle Schools to End on Monday, March 14th

Update (from the Seattle Education Association Facebook page, bold mine):

You may have received notice from SPS that they are making masks optional starting Monday, March 14. SPS unilaterally implemented this change in masking policy. We are deeply disappointed that SPS has violated our collective agreement to bargain the change. This causes chaos and confusion for staff and families. Bargaining was scheduled to start Friday.

Second post:

A statement by Jennifer Matter, President of SEA, and Uti Hawkins, Bargaining Chair of SEA:
SEA Response to SPS Announcing Masks Optional
We are deeply disappointed by Seattle Public Schools’ masking announcement today which is completely contrary to its prior statements and commitments to its educators and the community and it is in violation of our contractual MOU with the District. The public and SEA members believed the District when it announced, "Future decisions on mask use within the district will be made in partnership with public health, and its implementation will be established after consultation and mutually agreed upon guidelines that are reached through bargaining with our labor partners." The District cannot unilaterally ignore an agreed-upon MOU, and now is leaving educators scrambling with just days before lifting the mask mandate. It is particularly frustrating given that we had scheduled to bargain masks all day on Friday, March 11. Clearly, SPS misled us.
One of the most important things we can do to support our students, families, and educators is to provide stability and predictability and to build trust with clear and consistent communication. Making a commitment to the public and then going back on that commitment, providing no time to prepare for such an important transition, is deeply harmful to our school community and SEA's relationship with the District. Making announcements without answers to common questions and without consultation with those having to implement changes erodes SPS’ credibility. This type of chaos, confusion and distrust directly leads to educator burnout and to educators leaving the District and the profession.
The City of Seattle is continuing masking for its employees and visitors through April 4. SPS did not have to make a rash decision.
We had hoped for a better start to Dr. Jones' permanent tenure. He was lauded for the stability he created and his ability to work with labor and others, but today he failed. SEA was making progress in our relationship but we now have serious concerns about his leadership. Sadly, our trust has been shaken and we have gone backwards. This does not bode well for future negotiations.
We will be reaching out to our members to determine next steps.

Oh my.

end of update

 In what appears to be quite a turnaround, the district today announced (partial):

Seattle Public Schools will lift its current mask requirements beginning Monday, March 14.  

In alignment with Gov. Jay Inslee’s updated health guidance, the Washington State Department of Health, and Public Health – Seattle & King County, masks will become optional both indoors and outdoors at SPS buildings and on school buses (yellow buses). Please note: masks will continue to be required for students who ride King County Metro public transit. 

Until March 14, current masking protocols will remain in place. Masks will continue to be required for all students, staff, and visitors on all SPS campuses and school buses through March 13. 

Visit our website for more information

If you have questions or comments, please use our Let’s Talk form. 

I had read that the SEA contract gave the SEA some leeway over the mask mandate and teachers wanted it until May 1. That puzzled me because no other large city seemed to have that issue and most, including NYC and Chicago and LA, have lifted theirs.  

I did see this via Twitter but a couple of readers sent it to me; thanks for helping me keep up with the news from SPS.

The Superintendent also made these important points:

We also understand that there are different beliefs, opinions, reasons, and comfort levels around masking, yet it is important to be patient and respect the personal choices of others. Some of our staff may have vulnerable household members, who have health conditions or are not yet eligible for vaccination. We will continue to foster a climate of empathy and equity. Our school community have been through a challenging – and in some ways traumatic – two years, yet our outlook is hopeful. We are grateful that brighter and healthier days are ahead of us.

I note that the Kent superintendent used stronger language in saying that NO bullying behavior will be tolerated against those who want to continue to wear masks. I hope SPS principals are making that clear to students. 

Some food for thought from The Atlantic on where we are today as a nation with (somewhat) dwindling COVID rates and yet have over 950,000 people dead. 

The United States reported more deaths from COVID-19 last Friday than deaths from Hurricane Katrina, more on any two recent weekdays than deaths during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, more last month than deaths from flu in a bad season, and more in two years than deaths from HIV during the four decades of the AIDS epidemic. At least 953,000 Americans have died from COVID, and the true toll is likely even higher because many deaths went uncounted. COVID is now the third leading cause of death in the U.S., after only heart disease and cancer, which are both catchall terms for many distinct diseases. The sheer scale of the tragedy strains the moral imagination.

In a study of 29 high-income countries, the U.S. experienced the largest decline in life expectancy in 2020 and, unlike much of Europe, did not bounce back in 2021. It was also the only country whose lowered life span was driven mainly by deaths among people under 60.

Comments

Kate (Belltown) said…
This does not bode well. Teachers were not notified until after the Seattle Times and KUOW had reported the lifting of mask requirements. In fact, as late as yesterday afternoon KUOW was reporting that SPS was keeping the mask requirement. It also appears that SEA was not consulted, as the usual reference to our "SEA partners" is not part of the district statement. No, this does not bode well for Mr. Jones' superintendency. I would also note that his letter to parents was signed "Superintendent" (not Interim). Has the Board approved a contract? when did this happen?
Anonymous said…
I think the pressure on why SPS would have been immense if they did not choose to follow federal, state and local health public health guidelines, like elsewhere. Otherwise the decision making is less clear, not based upon metrics and science, but certain strong opinions. If decision to continue a public health "emergency" protocol instead left up to one stakeholder (SEA) is it May 1st we stop wearing masks, or end of school or next year? People have become more aware of misinformation & politics surrounding COVID protocols, driving our opinions over following evolving public health policy and protocols. Masking had become equated with being a liberal progressive Democrat, while not masking with a Republican. That is unfortunate. It should be about the consensus of majority of our experts and elected officials, whom we TRUST, when to recommend and/or mandate emergency protocols & policy versus endemic policy. There is probably no significant benefit of continuing masks in the schools, within the context of a mask optional community, high vaccination, surge going down, less severe variant etc. Its a good idea for SPS to make data driven decisions, in a sensitive empathetic manner to support those who want to continue masking for various reasons.

LMS
Kate (Belltown) said…
Setting aside whether or not you agree with the decision, you need to consider how this was handled. Dr. Jones needed to reach agreement with SEA. Apparently, he did not even notify principals until late this morning, via Teams, and did not allow questions. He is in this position through a dishonest process, and it appears he is willing to operate in the same manner. As I said, this does not bode well.
Jones has a year contract as superintendent and so is truly "the" superintendent. We can only watch to see if the Board rights this leaning ship.
Anonymous said…
Wow! So. Much. Drama.

Teachers have bargaining rights. They use them all the time. Teachers decide when Seattle families go on vacation, when we wake up in the morning, when we fed our children lunch last year. It's not like Seattle teachers have no say. Families understand that everyone has a different opinion about masking. We're right here. We've all been through this pandemic together. Maybe the specific timing didn't work out the way teachers wanted. A few weeks this way, a few weeks that way, whatever. Obviously the great unmasking was coming.

Families don't need to hear all the teacher drama about this. We all have our own masking and unmasking drama. Get a room. Take a mindfulness minute.

Needless Drama
Kate (Belltown) said…
Melissa, thank you for the clarification on the Superintendent's contract status. I thought I had been closely following this matter, but somehow I missed that he'd been given a one-year contract.
Anonymous said…


Here is a link (from the Diane Ravitch blog) to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics about the value of masks in schools.

https://dianeravitch.net/2022/03/09/new-study-shows-value-of-masks-in-schools/

-NH
Anonymous said…
@NH The study looked at data prior to the Omicron surge, during delta (more death) and prior to many children being vaccinated. Masks have been an important tool as part of an emergency pandemic. I trust an overwhelming consensus of federal, state and local public health experts in regards to following ever evolving guidelines. Omicron is the most contagious strain yet, and it is much more contagious even with the masks, especially cloth. Dr Fauci mentioned quite awhile ago we will not be able to eradicate this virus. But hopefully control it over time hopefully evolving into a more mild version. The focus to date has been emergency protocol to mitigate a strain of virus that caused severe illness and death. Vaccinations and boosters remain incredibly important. Our entire country and the community are now moving towards "endemic" policy being led by a consensus of public health experts in all levels of government. Masks will be optional in many settings unless a more deadly strain surfaces, or our CDC and government officials feel they need to be mandated as emergency again.
LMS

Outsider said…
More amusing feedback from my middle schooler:

-- kids are already teasing each other about being anti-maskers, whenever anyone keeps the mask down a little too long while drinking, eating, etc. At the same time, any student who expresses genuine fear of COVID tends to be considered an annoying whiner.

-- the upcoming masking decision will be driven hardly at all about fear of COVID, and almost entirely about fears of being called a "mask-fisher", which is a universally known and commonly used phrase among students right now. It's derived from the term "catfisher" which is someone who uses a fake (more attractive) picture on online dating sites to lure people into dates. A mask fisher is someone who might be though notably less attractive when you see their whole face, compared to what you imagined when you only saw their eyes. Kids have a genuine fear of being teased that way.

All the schools had lessons today about not bullying peers over their mask choices, but it seems that they are missing the real trauma that is about to hit many students. After almost two years of remote school and mandatory masking, many students have never actually seen each other as they currently are. Normal developmental issues of self-presentation, self-confidence, and what makes a person valuable have been deferred for a long time, and are about to land like a ton of bricks. SPS seems to have completely whiffed on this, as they tend to do.

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