The Valley Center school board has voted unanimously to keep COVID-19 restrictions in place for the time being. The board agreed to a few changes to ease some requirements for teachers, some students and spectators at sporting events.
The board had a hearing at the request of former Sedgwick County Commissioner Richard Ranzau, who is the parent of a Valley Center student. He had filed a complaint saying that mask mandates are no longer necessary because of a recent decline in cases in the county. Some students and teachers have voiced support for keeping the mandates in effect.
The board decided to require students, staff and spectators at outdoor events to wear masks if social distancing is not possible. Pre-K students can remove their masks in the classroom if their teachers say it’s okay to do so. Staff members will not be required to wear masks if there are no students in the room and they can practice social distancing from co-workers.
