Gleaner & Tribe News

School Improvement Survey

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Message from Fr. Joe

As superintendent of Saint Vincent Schools, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety of our students and staff and act in the best interest of our schools.

I had hoped that we could begin this school year with normalcy rather than with masks and quarantines but it seems that the pandemic has not yet finished with us. It is still my goal to provide as much in-school learning as possible.

As part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis and citizens of Perry County, we are obliged to cooperate with the Perry County Health Department and follow the guidelines they provide. The Health Department has threatened to report any noncompliance of our school to various agencies including the Missouri High School Athletic Association which could result in the disqualification of our school from interscholastic sports competition. While I do not care for such threats, it is not in the best interest of our school nor our students to risk that outcome.

In my view, it is not proper for St. Vincent Schools to become an enforcing agent of the health department's quarantine orders. That is a civil matter, not a school matter. However, providing a safe environment for faculty, staff, and students is very much a school matter.

This past week a significant number of our students were ordered to quarantine by the health department. Subsequently, the health department notified us of their quarantine order. A few parents chose to disobey the quarantine order and send their children to school without masks or social distance. Because I do not wish to be the enforcing agent of a quarantine, but wish to protect the rest of our students and staff to whatever degree possible, We asked that these students at least wear a mask and social distance. Some refused even to do this which compromised those around us and created a scene unbecoming of St. Vincent de Paul School.

Later this week the matter will be discussed by the school board. Until I receive their counsel and come to a further decision on the matter, we will follow these protocols.

When the health department notifies us of students who test positive for COVID-19, that student will not be allowed to attend in-school classes at St. Vincent school until they are cleared by the health department to return.

When the health department notifies us of quarantined students who were "close contacts", we encourage parents to follow the direction of the health department.

If a close contact student showing no symptoms comes to school we will:

• Notify the health department of their non-compliance with the health department's order.

• We will require them to wear a mask and social distance from other students/staff.

• If they fail to comply with the mask and social distance requirement, they will be suspended from school for the duration of the quarantine order.

Obviously, if a student is showing symptoms, we will send them home and encourage their parents to take appropriate action.

I pray you can see my effort to find a middle road here. It has been my experience that, as midwesterners, we are a little more rational than some parts of our country. We appreciate your continued support.

Fr. Joe