MC schools send 68 into COVID-19 quarantine

Meeting set on masking mandate after Youngkin nixes requirement

by Larry Chowning –

COVID-19 has roared back into the Middlesex County Public Schools system as school superintendent Dr. Tracy Seitz reported last week that there were 21 positive cases in the schools and 68 individuals have been required to quarantine because of contact at school and on buses.

In keeping with school system policy, Dr. Seitz did not name the specific schools affected, nor specify whether those placed in quarantine were students or staff or some combination of the two.

“As we expected we are seeing an increase of COVID-19 cases in the community,” said Dr. Seitz in an email to parents on Friday, Jan. 14. “This variant (omicron) is very easily spread and we ask you to be extra vigilant in monitoring yourself and your child for symptoms.

“Contact has been made with the families of those who are required to quarantine. It is not necessary for any other students or staff to enter quarantine at this time,” she said.

Jan. 24 unmasking eyed

On Monday, Dr. Seitz reported that a new order issued by Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin allows parents to decide whether or not their children should wear masks in school. Youngkin’s mask-optional order for students was one of several executive orders the new Republican governor issued on Saturday, the day he took office.

The order states, “a child whose parent has elected that he or she is not subject to a mask mandate should not be required to wear a mask under any policy implemented by a teacher, school, school district, the Department of Education, or any other state authority.”

Dr. Seitz states in her email that the new order does not go into effect until Monday, Jan. 24, so masking will still be required until the order goes into effect.

“We will keep you up to date and informed on any changes as we get more information on the executive order,” she wrote. “We appreciate our partnership and your support as we work through these details.”

A group of Chesapeake parents filed a lawsuit against Youngkin Tuesday, arguing that his order that scrapped the statewide school mask mandate, and gave parents an opt-out from local mandates, thwarts state law, according to published reports. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that students and staff wear masks at school. Democrats in the General Assembly say Youngkin is overstepping his power and threatening the ability of schools to protect students and staff.

The Middlesex County School Board has scheduled a special called meeting to discuss with the public the school system’s mask policy. The meeting is set for 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, in the auditorium of St. Clare Walker Middle School at 6814 General Puller Highway in Locust Hill.