As the state prepares to lift its indoor masking mandate by the end of March, local school districts are grappling with the decision on whether to make masks required or optional through the end of the school year.

The Seaside School District Board discussed options during their meeting earlier this month, ultimately deciding to wait until their meeting in March to make a decision based on guidance from the Clatsop County Public Health Department and data on COVID-19 case rates at that time.

“I want to make sure that all of our kids get the time in school that they deserve,” board chair Brian Taylor said. “Going to distance learning is not a very favorable thing for our kids, even if it’s just 10 days.”

The Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority have made various updates to virus precautions for schools throughout the pandemic.

Earlier this month, the state announced it would lift the mask requirement at schools on March 31. The reasoning for that hard date, Penrod said, is “to give school districts time to transition, also an opportunity for families to get their students vaccinated.”

By the end of March, the health authority projects hospitalizations to fall below pre-omicron levels.

School districts may continue to require students, staff, volunteers or visitors to wear face coverings during indoor activities after March 31. Additionally, local public health authorities can require staff and students to wear face coverings at schools.

During the meeting, Penrod harkened back to the district’s goals that were set at the beginning of the school year:

1. Keep students in school all year, every day, for the entire school year

2. Do everything they can to keep students and staff healthy in order to accomplish goal No. 1.

3. Support students throughout the year to thrive as they transition back into full-time learning.

“I’m so proud of our district, that here we are in February, and we’ve been able to accomplish that so far,” Penrod said. “We have not had to transition to distance learning at all.”

In order to get a sense of community opinion going forward, the district sent out a survey to families, students and staff earlier this month. They received 360 responses: 156 from staff members; 83 from family members; 110 from students; and 11 from “other,” which could include individuals who are staff and parents or staff from Northwest Regional Education Service District.

“We’re really appreciative of how many people took the time to complete the survey,” Penrod said.

About 51% of staff members responded they wanted masks to be required beyond March 31; 49% responded “no.” About 65% of family members responded “no” to masks beyond March 31; about 35% responded “yes.” About 55% of students responded “no” and 45% responded “yes.”

They also gathered comments from survey respondents. Staff, family members and students who responded “yes” to required masking shared comments such as “finish out the school year,” “last time it was lifted, we saw an increase in cases,” “very uncomfortable doing my job without people/students wearing masks,” and “don’t want to get sick and miss the end of the school year.”

People who responded “no” made comments such as “individual choice,” “don’t like wearing masks,” “better for students to see us and see each other’s facial expressions,” and “continue with sanitizing and contact tracing.”

If schools don’t have universal masking, it would require more rigorous contact tracing, which was a concern for school board members who are worried about the staff’s capacity to do so while carrying out other responsibilities.

Quarantine rules for students who aren’t vaccinated and come in close contact with a positive case indoors are also more rigorous without universal masking.

For example, two preschool students recently tested positive for COVID-19 between the two classrooms in Seaside. Children under the age of 5 are not required to wear masks indoors — so there is not universal masking — and they also are not vaccinated.

As a safety measure, the preschool classrooms are closed until Monday.