RCAS “Together Again” back-to-school plan passes six to one

RAPID CITY, S.D. — When the Rapid City Area Schools open on September 8, staff and faculty will have masks in hand.

It’s part of The Together Again Plan approved on Monday by the school board.

Rapid City Area Schools’ board meeting included another round of debates as members voted to require masks in schools when lessons beginning September 8th.

Board member Kate Thomas abstained from the vote claiming the mandate could not be enforced.

Kate Thomas, RCAS board member, said “For those that don’t have an exemption, for those parents that say I’m not going to, for those teachers that don’t want to and are not going to – no exemption. What is a mandate if you can’t enforce it?”

Heading back to school, if social distance is not an option students and staff will be asked to wear masks.

Thomas argues the district could be setting themselves up for legal action if parents don’t agree with the mask mandate.

But Superintendent Doctor Lori Simon says information shared from the associated school boards of South Dakota and from their legal counsel will protect the district from liability.

“We’re going to ber far more protected from liability by having a requirement to wear masks.” said Dr. Lori Simon.

For the distance learning option, the board voted six to one.

Together Again, Back to School, is a plan that is dependent on the level of spread of the virus in the community and within the schools.

Level one response means there is little or no spread and level three being complete shutdown of facilities and all classes moving online.

The board also voted to give Dr. Simon the authority to address those items as they come up.

You can view the plan with the link below.

Together Again – 8.11 Evening (1)