Beginning March 14, school teachers across the state of California started seeing something new: The bottom half of their students’ faces.
The California Department of Public Health announced Feb. 28 that effective after March 11, masks are no longer required indoors in schools and child care centers—regardless of vaccination status.
Santa Maria-Bonita School District (SMBSD) Interim Superintendent Matt Beecher sent out a notice to all faculty and families with the latest information and left it up to parents to decide whether or not to send their children to school with masks. Masks will still be available on an as-needed basis for children who lose or break their masks, the notice added.
“Masks are considered an effective measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and remain strongly recommended as a protective measure,” the notice stated. “Please keep in mind that there may be a variety of reasons why some students and other individuals may continue to wear a mask at school. SMBSD students, staff, and families are encouraged to be respectful and considerate of others at all times.”
On March 14, many students and faculty at Tommie Kunst Junior High School decided to keep their noses and mouths covered, eighth grade English teacher Kevin Foote said.
“Of my students present today, eight had no masks. I was happy to see their smiles and faces, some for the first time,” Foote said.
Foote said he decided to keep his own mask on since he sees hundreds of people per day, and he’s added two air filters—one by his desk and one in the back of the classroom—for his own health and safety.
“The reality is it’s not a fear of life or wellness; it’s a staffing thing. I don’t want to be out five to 10 days and have a sub run a class, or—if there’s not a sub—have another teacher double down. We’re all stretched thin here, and I want to manage it as best I can without it being obsessive. I’m not sure what that looks like, I’ve never lived in a pandemic before,” Foote said.
The English teacher began classes on March 14 with a conversation about students respecting one another and checking in with their peers’ boundaries, he said.
“Most of the students chose to keep doing what they’re doing. These students are trying to navigate how they feel safe, not just physically,” Foote said. “Masks give a level of security and don’t perpetuate bad habits.”
Parents taking their teenagers—or kids in general—to get vaccinated is another way to heighten that sense of security, Foote said. He said he wants to see more state and county effort increasing vaccination rates in 12- to 15-year-olds. Lately, he’s seen a vaccine push for 5- to 11-year-olds and fears teenagers—like those he teaches—are being forgotten.
“Junior high is the overlooked group. Normally that bothers me when we are talking about curriculum, but I hope that doesn’t happen when it comes to vaccination rates,” he added.
According to Santa Barbara County Public Health Data, about 14,700 12- to 15-year-olds are vaccinated, making up 4 percent of the doses administered. The county provides vaccination locations and information, but Foote said it’s more of an access issue, and vaccine clinics need to be available at schools to make it easier for families.
“I want Santa Maria to help kids get vaccinated; it’s a privilege to get vaccinated. We have testing clinics, and I’m so thankful to our administration for educating families, but it’s sad we don’t have pop-up clinics at school this far into the pandemic. I want kids to be happy and healthy and have a good teenage experience like I did,” he said.
This article appears in Mar 17-24, 2022.
