RAPID CITY, S.D. – It was standing room only at the Tuesday night Rapid City Area School Board meeting.
Two groups, one against mask mandates, the other for them, clashed as the board discussed the current COVID-19 situation.
As of Tuesday, RCAS reported it had 35 staff COVID-19 cases and 254 student cases, with 47 staff and 560 students in quarantine.
Superintendent Lori Simon, in her remarks, showed the audience a graph comparing the COVID-19 case levels from the 2021-22 school year and the 2020-21 school year to demonstrate how cases have skyrocketed in the first two weeks.
Those against any further COVID-19 mandates didn’t seemed phased. Neither did the school board.
The Board voted 5-2 not to impose a temporary two-week mask mandate, although it was being recommended by some physicians.
The Board also amended its procedure for updating parents and staff on COVID 19 cases within schools, voting to cease daily emails unless the recipient chooses to opt-in.
The district, will, however, continue to update daily cases on its website dashboard.
