Parents Express Concerns About New In-School Quarantine Policy

A Union parent shares her concerns about the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s announcement. The policy allows students who have been exposed to COVID-19 to participate in distance learning in a supervised environment.

“At first glance, it seems like a great idea, but somebody is going to have to be on the front lines,” Leigh Roy said.

Union Freshman Academy parent, Leigh Roy is on the fence about the announcement. Leigh said the intent is right as it could help relieve some pressure off parents to teach their kids at home but thinks putting teachers and staff in danger isn’t the smartest idea.

"Who do we want to put in harm’s way to teach these kids?”

Oklahoma schools that adopt an in-school quarantine policy will have to follow guidelines. Some of these guidelines include the availability of facilities that will permit housing of quarantined students in a socially distanced environment. Quarantined students will have to remain in the space except for breaks for restroom and outside time, and they will have to remain socially distant of at least six feet in the quarantine space.

Leigh said she has noticed that her school has experienced a lack of support and doesn’t know how a small school system will be able to implement this policy.

“They have already been through so much, so we can’t just throw them under the bus.”

Quarantined students will also have to wear masks except when eating, be tested repeatedly, in which those tests will be provided to the schools by the OSDH.

From November 30th until December 23rd, schools in Oklahoma will be able to adopt the new in-school quarantine policy.