Confusion over mask requirements at Tacoma schools means in-person learning on hold indefinitely
A day after Tacoma Public Schools officials cited new state guidance in deciding to cancel plans to return to in-person school on Monday, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Labor and Industries said no new guidance has been issued.
The News Tribune on Friday could not determine who’s right, but the upshot is Tacoma’s youngest students will not begin returning to class next week as hoped, and the timeline for that to happen is up in the air.
“We’re just trying to understand what we have to do to open safely for staff and students,” TPS spokesman Dan Voelpel told The News Tribune on Friday.
On Thursday, district officials referred to new state guidance on face masks to explain an abrupt decision to cancel a move to a hybrid education model Monday, with the district’s youngest students returning to the classroom for part of the week.
“We have discovered during safety testing of our N95 masks that many are not passing the safety standards,” Voelpel said Thursday. “It has been extremely frustrating to try and follow changing guidance on health and safety issues that we have to put in place.”
On Friday, state Department of Labor and Industries spokeswoman Debbie Abe told The News Tribune there has been no recent change in guidance in face mask requirements for school employees in light of COVID-19.
Abe said the state confirmed the existing requirements to Tacoma Public Schools this week.
Asked if Tacoma was meeting current mask standards, Abe said, “We have not received any complaints about masks in the Tacoma Public Schools, and we have not done any inspections or compliance activity having to do with masks in that school district.”
Voelpel said the district’s Environmental Health and Safety manager sought clarification on masks from L&I in a telephone conversation this week after seeing a September publication on mask use from L&I.
Citing the coronavirus pandemic, that publication states workers who stay six feet apart other than briefly passing others are deemed “low risk” and only need cloth masks.
“Medium risk” employees would be those who break six-feet distancing several times a day where preventative measures like plastic barriers are not feasible, the report said. Workers like grocery story employees are recommended to wear surgical masks.
Those who work or travel within three feet of others for more than 10 minutes an hour many times a day are deemed “high risk” and should wear N95 masks, L&I said in the report.
“Since the pandemic started, every department is saying follow L&I guidance,” Voelpel told The News Tribune. “We wanted to be crystal clear about what masks each employee group should be wearing to give them the protection that should be required.”
The district stood by its understanding of the clarification provided in the phone conversation and the decision to call off plans to begin allowing some kids back to school Monday.
The current state mask requirements have been in place since May. They include cloth face coverings for most classroom settings and N95 masks for high-risk employees, like a school health officer helping an ill student.
Rather than use cloth covering for teachers, TPS ordered disposable surgical masks. N95 masks have been ordered for nurses, health clerks, special education teachers, paraeducators and custodians.
While the district has 3,400 N95 masks, half of them did not meet L&I mask performance standards, Voelpel said.
The district’s Environmental Health and Safety manager declined to be interviewed. Voelpel said The News Tribune would need to file a public records request for documents or correspondence between the district and L&I.
It remains unknown when the school district will begin a gradual return to the classroom.
OSPI guidance
The state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction refers school districts to L&I for guidance on face coverings.
The Reopening Washington Schools 2020 District Planning Guide prepared by OSPI says:
“Cloth facial coverings must be worn by every employee not working alone on the job site unless their exposure dictates a higher level of protection under L&I safety and health rules and guidance with the following exceptions: when working alone in an office, vehicle, or at a job site; if the individual is deaf or hard of hearing, or is communicating with someone who relies on language cues such as facial markers and expression and mouth movements as a part of communication; if the individual has a medical condition or disability that makes wearing a facial covering inappropriate; or when the job has no in-person interaction.”
OSPI did not immediately return The News Tribune’s requests for additional guidance.
Tacoma Education Association president Shannon Ergun said the delay in moving to a hybrid model would allow teachers to be more prepared for the classroom and have the level of protection they need.
“We need to take this slowly and carefully,” Ergun said.
While there is frustration about continued remote learning, waiting to ensure that staff and students can return as safely as possible is important, she said.
“It’s frustrating for staff and parents,” Ergun said. “I certainly don’t want to bring children back and have someone get sick or seriously impacted, because we are in a hurry to get kids back to school.”
Beyond Tacoma
Another district with plans to reopen next week, the Puyallup School District, intends to continue with Sept. 29 as a start date.
Puyallup reached out to L&I after Tacoma’s decision and confirmed that its reopening plan is acceptable.
“We contacted them this morning and confirmed no new guidance for school specifically,” communications director Sarah Gillispie told The News Tribune on Friday.
Youngest students will start with two days in the classroom and three days online.
Classroom teachers will wear cloth masks, she said. Employees who perform “high-risk” activities, like administering medication, or those who cannot maintain six-feet of distance from students will be provided N95 masks.
“We meet current standards and provide enhanced PPE in those instances,” Gillispie said.
This story was originally published September 26, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
