Jeremy Meyers, Superintendent
Dear Black Oak Mine families,
At the risk of exhausting everyone with yet another informational email, it’s important that we exhaustively communicate on the issue of masks. Big surprise, information is changing on a daily basis and the issue, especially as it relates to schools, is complex and emotionally charged.
The Black Oak Mine Unified School District is committed to normalizing school attendance to the greatest extent possible while maintaining our demonstrated safety record for students and staff. This includes things such as full day, volunteers, school assemblies, dances, and athletics.
In response to the updated California Department of Public Health guidance and parent concerns, the BOMUSD Board of Trustees held a special meeting July 28. The updated guidance was reviewed, parents had the opportunity for input and a letter of concern addressed to the CDPH was shared on behalf of the board. We are well aware parents have concerns on both sides of the mask mandate, in particular.
The letter sent on behalf of the Board of Trustees, petitions the CDPH to consider local control of the COVID-19 guidance. Meaning, we believe that our school district and the El Dorado County Office of Public Health should have control over the substance and implementation of the guidance as we are closest to our community and better appreciate our local conditions. Additionally, we have requested that CDPH provide the metrics used to impose the mask mandate and the metrics that make clear when masks are no longer needed. We will inform our community when and if we have any response.
As it currently stands, the CDPH has mandated masks for all students and staff when indoors. BOMUSD does not have the authority to deviate from this mandate because we are a public agency, required to follow the mandates prescribed by the state of California. And, we will.
Appreciating that some parents and students are strongly opposed to the mask mandate, we ask that you consider the ways in which we are making every effort to normalize the school experience with full day, volunteers, school assemblies, dances and athletics. Also, that we are doing all we can to express our frustration with the lack of choice and with the lack of local control. We believe in following the advice of health experts and believe that advice is best found at the local level.
For those entirely unwilling to wear a mask and for those who can demonstrate health concerns, the state of California has mandated that all schools provide independent study. They’ve required that districts provide independent study while simultaneously claiming that in-person instruction is the absolute priority. We see the irony in this. Additionally, the state of California made major changes to independent study law, which now requires daily, live interaction between students and the independent study teacher. We will follow up with additional information specific to independent study.
In terms of enforcing the mask mandate, the state of California has left us with precious few options. In short, exclusion from school is the only way we can abide by the mask requirement for all students and staff. Please work with us to avoid this from happening.
Appreciating that folks feel strongly on both sides of this issue, we ask that everyone comply. We absolutely do not want to exclude students and do not believe that independent study is a good option for the vast majority of students. Understanding that schools have been given an almost untenable task, we ask that you adhere to the CDPH guidance. In exchange, we will continue to do all we can to provide exceptional education experiences for your child and to advocate for parent choice and for local control. Additionally, we will look for ways to increase the time that students spend outside when at school.
Again, the BOMUSD is doing all we can to normalize the school experience. We are excited about the changes we have implemented. Other than the obvious exception of masks, this year is the closest we’ve been to “normal” in what feels like a very long time. We look forward to seeing you all Aug. 11.
Regards, Jeremy Meyers, Superintendent.