Shelbyville Central Schools Superintendent Mary Harper attended the high school softball program's invitational tournament Saturday and was surprised to see so many people not wearing protective masks.
That prompted a discussion Wednesday night prior to the school board's monthly meeting about the governor's executive order which requires masks at all school functions through the end of the school year.
Harper believes recently-released information from the Centers for Disease Control regarding COVID-19 and outdoor events has led to confusion.
"The CDC last week sent out new guidance that says COVID-19 is not as transmittable outside," explained Harper via phone interview Thursday morning with the Shelby County Post. "I think a lot of people thought that pertained to the school system but the executive order from Governor (Eric) Holcomb says you have to wear a mask outside on school premises."
Shelbyville High School was the host site for a girls track and field sectional Tuesday, is the host site for a girls tennis sectional that continues today and tomorrow, and will host a softball sectional next week.
Harper will reiterate to the athletic staff that masks are expected to be worn whenever possible.
"We will do the best we can to get people to comply at outside events," she said.
Patrons attending outdoor events will be asked to wear a mask when they purchase tickets and enter the facility. Harper does not expect staff to then police everyone during events but public address announcements will be made to encourage spectators to wear masks whether vaccinated or not.
"We will continue to let people know when they buy tickets that we are still under a mask mandate," said Harper. "And we will have masks available."
In other board business Wednesday, the board approved overnight field trip requests for the high school's boys basketball team to attend the Indiana Wesleyan University Team Camp (June 25-27) and the SHS cheer team to attend an UCA Cheer Camp in Mason, Ohio (July 6-9).
In personnel news, the board accepted the resignations of Emily Burrow (Coulston Elementary teacher), Rachel Hatton (SMS Social Studies teacher), Jennie Tague (SHS English teacher), Maria Knecht (SMS/SHS Speech Language Pathologist), and MacKinsey Taylor (SMS/SHS Theatre teacher).
The board approved Allison Anderson as the new SHS Band Director. She will replace Russell Smith, who is retiring. Anderson is currently the assistant band director at SHS.
Andy Snow, former Loper Elementary School teacher and current SCS Integration Specialist, will become the Shelbyville Central Virtual School Director, effective July 1.
