BOSTON (AP) – New evidence that it is safe for schools to put students at a distance of 3 feet – half the previous recommended distance – could provide a way to get more of the children of the country into classrooms with limited to return space.
Although more teachers received vaccinations against COVID-19, social distance guidelines remained a major obstacle for U.S. districts. The debate surrounding the issue flared up last week when a study suggested that masked students could sit as far as 3 feet apart without being raised. risk to them or teachers.
Published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, the research looked at schools in Massachusetts that support the 3-foot guideline for months. Illinois and Indiana also allow 3 feet distance, and other states like Oregon are also considering doing so.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is also currently investigating the idea. The director of the agency, dr. Rochelle Walensky, said the 6-foot guideline is “one of the biggest challenges” schools have experienced in the reopening.
The CDC included the larger spacing in its latest school guidelines, issued in February and concluded that schools could operate safely with masks, distance and other precautions during the pandemic. It suggested 6 feet and said that physical distance ‘should be as large as possible’.
Other organizations have issued more relaxed guidelines, including the World Health Organization, which insists 1 meter in schools. The American Academy of Pediatrics tells space banks ‘3 feet apart and ideally 6 feet apart’.
Dan Domenech, executive director of AASA, a national superintendent group, said he expects more states and schools to move to the 3-foot rule in the coming weeks. With the larger guideline, he said, most schools only have room to bring back half of their students at a time. If he moves to 3 feet, it could allow about 75% at a time, he said.
“There are districts that have been doing 3 feet long for some time without there being any more infection,” he said.
In Illinois, health officials said last week that students can sit 3 feet apart as long as their teachers are vaccinated. Previously, government officials needed 6 feet.
With the state’s blessing, the Barrington district near Chicago reopened middle schools on Tuesday with the smaller spacing rule. Each student will be allowed to attend personal lessons, although the district expects about 30% to continue with distance education.
Questions around spacing have led to a fight in Massachusetts, where teachers and some schools are against a state plan to bring younger students back five days a week from next month. The plan calls on schools to put students off 3 feet apart, although many already use 6 feet as standard. Districts that do not meet the reopening deadline may lose the risk of state funding.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association, a nationwide union, argues that the seating of students closer will increase the risk for everyone in the classroom. It also poses a problem for districts that have agreed on contracts with teachers who accept the 6-foot rule as a requirement.
“They can not just throw 6 feet out the window. They cannot throw away what has been agreed upon, ”said Merrie Najimy, president of the union. “If they can not make it work, they will have to come to a new agreement.”
Public schools in Worcester are among those pushing back against the narrower space. Tracy O’Connell Novick, a member of the district committee, said the switch to the 3-foot standard would be “the health of” thousands of students and staff.
In Boston public schools, desks will be located at least 3 feet apart, but teachers and staff will be asked to keep students and other staff whenever possible, said District Spokesman Xavier Andrews. Schools will also use larger rooms and outdoor spaces to keep students at a safe distance, he said.
In some countries where spacing is already allowed 3 feet, schools say they have not seen any evidence of increased risks. School officials in Danville, Indiana, who moved to 3 feet in October, said students were in the classroom all year without virus transmission coming up.
“It went very well for us. I would not say there was no shipment, but it was incredibly low – like once or something, “said Tim McRoberts, vice president of the school board.” We kept our doors open. We have no temporary closures. had not. ”
In Ohio, the Cincinnati school board received a plethora of parents and others last month when they proposed to start learning in person again at the crowded Walnut Hills High School according to a model that insisted on removing only 3 feet there, while his other schools would use 6 feet. .
Critics include Walnut Hills teacher Brandon Keller, who said the plan was dangerous. He warned the council that their decision would have a body position. ‘
Councilors returned after the reopening of the school, and then weeks later carefully voted for a plan that included a phased reopening, but they also warned that the physical distance could be less than 6 feet. Students also have options to continue learning virtually.
Seven superintendents in Central Oregon sent a letter to Kate Brown last week asking the state to relax some of its social distance rules – including the 6-foot barrier – so more students can return to class full-time.
Oregon’s Crook County School District, which has had students in classrooms most of the school year, has found that masks, contact detection and sending students home when they show symptoms are the most effective way to fight the virus.
“The 6-foot rule does not make as much sense as the other safety measures,” said Jason Carr, district spokesman. “What might have made sense maybe two months ago or at the beginning of the year may not be now.”
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Associated Press authors Philip Marcelo, John Seewer and Kantele Franko contributed to this report.