Owasso Public Schools Board Opens Floor To Public On Quarantine Options

Some parents in Owasso are worried about their child’s education if their kids have to quarantine due to COVID-19.

At the Monday night Board of Education meeting, doctors spoke to the board about kids wearing masks.

An Owasso mother said if children catch COVID-19, parents should choose whether kids have to quarantine at home or keep attending class. She said that's because students will fall behind in school. 

Owasso public schools said CDC and Tulsa County guidelines means if a student or faculty member comes into close contact with someone that tests positive COVID-19, contact tracers will tell them to quarantine for 14 days.

Jennifer Johnson and other parents said in the beginning of the year, learning from home was terrible, and a quarantine period or pivot to home would be detrimental for their kids' education.

Dr. Richard Bartlett, a doctor from Texas, spoke at Monday's school board meeting. Dr. Bartlett said children are much less likely to spread COVID-19, and that most only have mild or no symptoms and that keeping them home is dangerous.

Dr. Jim Meehan from Tulsa also talked about face masks at the meeting and how research has shown they are not effective in stopping COVID-19 from being spread. He said schools should not have mask mandates. Meehan has also been a vocal opponent of vaccines.

The board took no action on the doctors' public comment.

"Children need face-to-face interaction with the teachers," Barlett said. "Teachers are the best qualified to teach the children after their years of training and experience."

"Recently we have been limited in the choice as when our kids have been allowed to be in school and are working against forced closures," said Jennifer Johnson.

You can read the full statement from the Owasso Public Schools Board of Education below.

"Our current practices and procedures regarding masks, contact tracing, and quarantines are aligned with recommendations and guidelines by the CDC and Tulsa County Health Department. Students or staff members who meet the exposure criteria (broadly defined as being within 6-feet of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes) must quarantine for 14 days. Students or staff who do not meet the exposure criteria are not required to quarantine. These guidelines and practices have been established by the CDC and Tulsa County Health Department. We continue to adhere to these practices and procedures in an effort to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19, keep our students and staff members safe, and keep our school buildings open. Should those guidelines change, we would certainly consider updating our practices and procedures to reflect updated guidance."