Several of the dozens at the board of education meeting advocated varying viewpoints, ranging from supporting or opposing coronavirus vaccinations, urging options for those at risk for health reasons and parental choice on face masks.
While the issue remains “fluid,” and subject to change, Henderson said Centerville’s guidelines will follow those announced Monday by the Ohio Department of Health and spelled out in greater detail Tuesday.
“Although masks will be optional in our school buildings…we are still strongly encouraging students and staff who are unvaccinated to wear masks indoors,” Henderson said.
The district has updated many of its HVAC systems, upgraded filters and “thoroughly cleaned every HVAC system,” he said.
“This allows us to bring in as much fresh air inside our buildings as possible,” Henderson added.
The district will also emphasize good sanitation and hygiene.
This year’s classes are likely to average about 20 students in kindergarten, increasing in higher grades and topping out at about 25 to 26 at Centerville High School, he said.
“We are a large suburban school district. Our enrollment is increasing, Henderson said. “We will work hard to practice social distancing. But it is difficult to do that in a large school district like ours.”
Centerville High School senior Yash Agarwal has worked to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
He said many in Montgomery County are “afraid of getting vaccinated because the vaccines were made very quickly,” which he called “a relatively valid reason.”
However, Agarwal said allergic reactions are rare and there are no trackers or chips in the vaccines.
But Vicki Collins, a medical assistant, said the vaccines “are not licensed at all” and are still in experimental trials.
“And there’s multiple reporting of people having adverse reactions,” she said.
Emily Fultz said her children have yet to return to school buildings – as many in the district did last winter and spring four days a week.
Fultz said her daughter has health issues that make her highly vulnerable around those who are unvaccinated or unmasked.
“I think it’s important for our community to realize that high-risk children exist. And they exist in here Centerville,” she said.
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