At its Wednesday, August 18 regular meeting, the Board of Directors for Pagosa Peak Open School (PPOS) voted four-to-two to follow the Archuleta School District (ASD) masking policy, as the new school year proceeds. Currently, ASD policy will allow parents to choose whether to have their children wear masks in school.
ASD will start their school year on September 7. Pagosa Peak opened its doors for the 2021-2022 school year on August 2, without requiring children mask.
ASD Superintendent Kym LeBlanc-Esparza told her School Board, earlier this month, that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Department of Education have issued ‘guidance’ recommending the wearing of masks, but have stayed clear of mandating masks, at this point. Dr. Kym told her board that, should mandates be issued in the future, ASD will abide by the state mandates.
That would mean, PPOS would also abide by the same mandates.
Three parents testified at the PPOS board meeting, requesting that all staff and students be required to wear masks indoors, in the face of reported increases of Delta variant cases in the community.
Following a lengthy discussion, the PPOS board elected to follow ASD policy on student mask-wearing.
PPOS is a District-authorized public school, open to all Archuleta County families on a tuition-free basis, offering local families a choice for K-8 education. Currently, all staff and adults at PPOS are required to wear masks indoors.