Education board in California's Orange County votes to reopen schools without requiring masks

[left-of-center2012]

Source: The Hill

The county Board of Education in Orange County, Calif., on Monday voted to approve school reopening recommendations that do not require masks for students or social distancing in schools.

In a 4-1 vote, the board approved recommendations that include frequent hand washing, daily temperature checks and nightly disinfection of facilities and vehicles, but did not include mandatory masks for students.

“K-12 children represent the lowest-risk cohort for Covid-19. Because of that fact, social distancing of children and reduced census classrooms is not necessary and therefore not recommended,” the board’s recommendations reads. “Requiring children to wear masks during school is not only difficult –if not impossible to implement –but not based on science. It may even be harmful and is therefore not recommended.”

Although Orange County shifted leftward in the 2016 and 2018 elections, it was for decades known as one of the most conservative parts of the state, and has been an epicenter of opposition to mask mandates in California.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/507198-californias-orange-county-votes-to-reopen-schools-without-requiring

---

Los Angeles and San Diego’s school districts have announced they will not reopen in the fall.

[NurseJackie]

1. A lot, but not everyone in Orange County is conservative...

... still, it appears that they are trying to ensure that a new generation of conservatives don't make it to adulthood.

Sad for the children.

[Lonestarblue]

10. Sad for the teachers and staff, too.

They’re more likely to have more cases of the virus and to suffer more. But it’s privileged Orange County. I’m sure they know better than anyone else in the world.

[SoCalNative]

17. They should all refuse to go back to work

then see how quickly the BOE reverses itself

[BigmanPigman]

3. Prediction...

There will be one person who has it in the first week of school. School has to shut down and quarantine for two weeks. They reopen and 3 more people get Covic and another 2 week quarantine starts as schools close again, etc...and all of this takes money, and the schools can't afford to do this anymore.

[George II]

4. This is mind boggling!

[soothsayer]

5. Weird, since they walked back a bunch of reopenings that involved being inside

[keithbvadu2]

6. Do they protect themselves from any responsibility for dead children?

Do they protect themselves from any responsibility for dead children?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10542002

New law shields Louisiana schools from COVID lawsuits from students, parents, teachers

[sakabatou]

7. Another outbreak if something isn't done

[Moostache]

8. Here....drink this Kool-Aid...you'll all be just fine...(n/t)

[CaptainTruth]

9. So... they think kids are sealed in classrooms & won't spread it to parents at home???

[aggiesal]

11. What? ...

“Requiring children to wear masks during school is not only difficult —if not impossible to implement — but not based on science. ...”

Not based on science?
These people are huge COVIDIOTS!

[Ghost Dog]

23. Statistics, predictable statistics, rather than science.

Indoor classes should not re-open, but if they do, mask-wearing rules will not prevent little kids touching where they shouldn't, and if such kids catch the virus only statistically very few will, on present knowledge, come to any serious harm.

Parents should think hard before sending their kids to these classes.

Teachers in that situation will need to be in full hospital - style PPE, though, to protect themselves not the kids, or go on strike.

Sorry if this sounds harsh.

Vulnerable people will need to thoroughly isolate themselves from all this, and should receive financial and social support as required.

[howardmappel]

24. Statistics?

Right, "only statistically very few will, on present knowledge, come to any serious harm." What a load of crap. At this point, as Covid-19 has only been around for 7 months, we have no clue as to long-term harm from even mild cases. So you are willing to roll the dice that our children may incur long-term lung or cardio-vascular or other serious damage based on "present knowledge," especially when almost every day doctors and scientists are discovering more and more about just how dangerous this bug is. And only "very few" -- what is that 1%, 3%, 5%, etc. and are you volunteering to be the one who is going to personally, face to face, explain to the parents and siblings of the "very few" that it was necessary to sacrifice their lives so that the great orange shitgibbon could have a talking point.

As others have pointed out, if one child tests positive, the school will need to be shut down and deep cleaned and the children quarantined. Without masks and more safety procedures, all of which cost money the schools don't have, more children will get infected, more schools will get shut down and community spread will get worse, all doing more damage to the economy. Don't believe me -- LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN ISRAEL RIGHT NOW.

[Ghost Dog]

27. No. Sorry. I should have made myself more clear.

I would not be willing to roll the dice thus. I was attempting in that paragraph to explain the way that county school board must have been thinking.

Do not re-open indoor classes, I recommend and said.

The virus is very nasty, likely to get nastier, with long term consequences even for the very young and, being not like influenza but in fact a species of common cold virus, with no possible effective vaccine, persistent auto-immunity nor cure.

It will mutate further and will likely be with us forever.

So we all WILL have to learn to live with it.

[Richard D]

12. I have a dear friend who is a teacher in OC

She's scared. Not only for herself, but for the other teachers and staff in the schools, most of whom are older and already have co-morbidities such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, etc. School children are already recognized as vectors for communicable diseases. None of the teachers want to return without safety procedures in place.

This is from a petition the teachers started:

So the Orange County Board is Education is saying since very few kids die from Covid, schools should open as normal. They are opposed to having kids practice social distancing and don’t even think anyone at school should wear a mask! I’m all for opening safely since I do miss seeing my students face to face but it does not make sense to say that schools do not need to follow the same health recommendations that all businesses are following! Please sign this petition to keep schools safe for teachers and students ❤️

https://www.change.org/p/orange-county-department-of-education-orange-county-schools-must-follow-ca-state-guidelines-for-re-opening-e377ceda-46a1-4b3f-bf9d-4861e2c3272f

[droidamus2]

13. I wonder

Since the beginning of the school year during this time will be more hectic than usual will these board of education members that are so cavalier about safety precautions be willing to volunteer at the area schools as teachers assistants, helping disinfect classrooms and vehicles, hall monitors, whatever? I being willing to put money on the fact that none of them would and though they would never admit it because i wouldn't be safe for them to be there.

[Evolve Dammit]

14. Moscow Mitch has already stated that the Heros Act won't proceed without legal immunity

I wonder if Orange County passed something along those lines?

[Nasruddin]

15. Logic

K-12 children represent the lowest-risk cohort for Covid-19. Because of that fact, social distancing of children and reduced census classrooms is not necessary

Real rocket scientists in that school board!

[dhill926]

16. wonder if the teachers will strike over this....

[Faux pas]

18. Kickin' with disgust!

and

[ace3csusm]

19. Will be watching their science experiment see how it works out ... Interesting they are willing

to use their own community as guinea pigs... im in San Deigo want kids to go to school but i know its not safe for students, teachers, workers... I have a though if they want everyone to go back test everyone that will be entering the school and their extended family...

[marlakay]

20. Ok the board members get to teach the first two weeks

Let's see then if they would change their minds!

[ancianita]

21. EXACTLY. Lead by example.

[hvn_nbr_2]

22. Every time I see this post on the DU front page...

my eyes see it as "Execution board in California's..."

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

25. K&R

[Initech]

26. God these people are fucking insane! It's like they want us dead.

[Yeehah]

28. The USA is a failed state

Because of millions of idiots and a ruling wealthy class which cares only for more money and power.

Now we are sacrificing our children, our teachers and our future.

[maxrandb]

29. Another example of why local elections are so important... and the power of Hate Radio

I bet my left nut that every last one of those 4 votes consume Hate Radio like crack.

I've personally seen it. Thankfully my kids are grown and out on their own, but I remember PTA meetings where there were always a couple of loudmouths spewing crap they heard from Limbaugh.

I swear to God. Those 4 School board members got the idea to run, and felt they were "experts on Skoool" because they listened to endless hours of hate.

They were told repeatedly that they should run for school board because they could "own the libs" and indoctrinate children to their Ayn Randian utopia.