Keys Public Schools Considers Ways To Implement Masks As COVID Cases Increase

One Cherokee County School district says it's dealing with growing COVID numbers Friday afternoon. 

Keys Public School leader changes could be coming if positive cases continue in the district.

“It’s going to hit us to just like ahead Hulbert,” Keys Superintendent Vol Woods said to News on 6 Friday.  

He says they’re strongly encouraging students, staff, and visitors to wear masks in school But last year. the district was one of many across the state that required masks. Woods says because of that decision, the district had no community spread of COVID-19 inside of any schools. 

Related Story: Hulbert Public Schools To Require Masks For All Students, Adults On School Grounds

"We know what works. We did all the mitigation efforts that we need to do social distancing, having kids wash their hands, be separated as much as possible, wear masks, etc." Woods added. 

Woods says now students and staff decide to wear or not wear a mask. But he says they are seeing a steading increase in COVID cases and quarantines, which have already affected entire classrooms. High School Principal Steven Goss agrees mandatory masks worked last year and would help now.  

"It's really disconcerting that we don’t have the same tool kit that we had last year," Goss said, "We had situations where one person had it but because of the safeguards that we had it didn't spread through the basketball team or spread through the football team, or the band."

Woods says he wants to follow the law but — but if cases get worse, they’ll have to go to distance learning and could consider a mask mandate. That's a decision Hulbert public Schools made Wednesday, despite legislation preventing school districts from doing so. Woods is urging the state to change its tune. 

"We know how to keep kids in school and keep them learning and keep them safe but you can’t tie our hands —you got a let us do what’s best," Woods said. 

The Cherokee Nation gave thousands of masks to Keys Public Schools Friday. The tribe said they would give masks to any school districts that need them, and or decide to implement a mask mandate.