WISD Board of Education approves new COVID guidance

The Williamsburg Independent School District Board of Education unanimously approved updating the district’s guidance regarding COVID-19 on Monday during a special called board meeting.

The board updated the district’s guidance in order to stay up to date with guidance provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Changes regarding the measurement of community levels and its effect on masking was the primary topic discussed at the meeting.

The CDC has released information regarding community infection rates which are then used by school districts to determine if masks are necessary.

When the community infection rates are high, or considered to be in the red zone, masking is strongly encouraged by school district. When community rates are medium or low, in the yellow or green zones, masking becomes more optional.

The board voted to approve the guidance to state if the community infection rate is high then students will be required to mask, but if the infection rates are medium or low, masking may become optional.

The board agreed to review the levels weekly and make decisions regarding the masking policy.

“We have followed this guidance. We have followed what has been asked because ultimately all of your goals were to make sure we had in-seat instruction,” said Superintendent Tim Melton.

“Our biggest priority is to try to make sure that we keep them in house as long as we can,” said board member Roger Faulkner.

Board Chair Kim Williams said that she felt like updating the guidance is just another step in following with the CDC’s recommendations, which is something the district has done since the beginning of the pandemic.

As of the meeting Monday evening, Whitley County is considered to be a red zone, so masks are required.