Northmont City Schools had eight students and two staff members test positive for COVID-19 during the district’s first week of classes and the district plans to introduce a mask mandate for some students beginning next week.
Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County reported the data to the Ohio Department of Health this week after verifying the cases, according to spokesman Dan Suffoletto.
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Northmont, Kettering and Jefferson Twp. schools were some of the earliest districts to start in the Miami Valley with classes beginning on Aug. 12 for all three.
Kettering City Schools reported two student cases and no staff cases its first week of classes, according to Public Health.
Both Kettering and Northmont had an optional mask policy to start the school year, however Northmont will make a change beginning Monday.
Northmont will require masks for students in pre-K to sixth grade classrooms and all district staff, including middle school and high school, will be required to wear masks as well.
Jefferson Twp. reported no new cases during its first week of classes and requires all students and staff at the district to wear masks.
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According to data from Northmont, its positive cases were reported in the high school, middle school, Kleptz Early Learning Center and both Englewood and Northmoor elementary schools.
Districts around the Miami Valley are facing what area superintendents have called a difficult decision on whether to require masks for students. A stern message from Gov. Mike DeWine Wednesday afternoon prompted districts like Springboro, Fairborn and Beavercreek to make a changes last this week to require students wear masks.
“It will be impossible to keep it from spreading,” DeWine said. “Our children simply cannot afford another disruptive school year.”
The Beavercreek school board meeting was a standing-room-only crowd with parents and students on both sides of the masking issue. That after a protest over the student mask mandate outside the district’s offices prior to the meeting.
“If masking can save just one child’s life...If masking saves just one child’s life in the entire state....If it saves just one life…it was worth it,” said Beavercreek School Board President Jo Ann Rigano, who was interrupted several times by people shouting from the crowd.
Others had a different view.
“This no longer represents health and safety. This represents dissention fear, tyranny, and a precedent we are not ok with,” one parent told the board Thursday night.
“It is the epitome of child abuse,” another parent said.
Emotions ran high throughout the entire meeting, with tears also being shed.
“I may look like a normal kid but I have a serious heart condition,” one student said. “All of my freedoms and rights are not as important as staying alive. So please remember me the next time you complain about wearing a mask. Thank you.”
Another parent supported Beavercreek’s decision.
“We have an opportunity to follow the science on this and do what the experts recommend. This will keep the schools open,” the parent said.