School districts in the county have decided to go opposite directions when it comes to recent changes in quarantine guidelines recommended by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson. 

A week after Warren County R-III voted to adopt the new recommendations during their monthly board meeting, Wright City R-II has chosen to maintain its original rules concerning COVID-19.

Previously, the state’s recommendation had been for all individuals who spent more than 15 minutes within 6 feet of a person who tested positive to quarantine. The new guidelines state that if both persons were wearing a mask at all times while they were in contact, the individual in close proximity would not have to quarantine if they do not exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19.

“In the end, I did not make a recommendation to push that forward,” said R-II Superintendent Dr. Chris Berger. “Probably the biggest factor was it just did not feel appropriate with the increase in cases in the county. The fact the CDC and the health department guidelines do not line up with the governor’s recommendations — at this time for Wright City, it’s just not what we’re going to do.”

As of Tuesday, Nov. 24, 225 students in the district were quarantined. Twenty students and 13 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the district.

Unlike R-III, Wright City had a week between the governor’s announcement and its next meeting, providing the opportunity to hold a Zoom meeting about the topic and survey staff and students for feedback.

“The one thing that might be a little unique is getting the student input,” said Berger. “We’ve not always done that, and I don’t know that everything we push out there is going to be ideal for student involvement. This felt like one we wanted student input on. It’s certainly not off the table for us in the future.”

Berger said the time to solicit feedback and deliberate a decision was helpful, also taking into consideration the spike in cases. While adopting the state’s new recommendations may have kept staff in the building and potentially prevented the need to close school, R-II ultimately didn’t view the rewards as outweighing the risks.

“Time was to our benefit,” said Berger. “We thought details would develop to make us feel more comfortable recommending it, primarily in the realm of liability.”

R-II is also taking its time in determining how to proceed with testing for COVID-19 in house, after previously acquiring antigen testing kits.

“We pumped the breaks on the COVID antigen testing,” said Berger. “We haven’t even started on a plan to test students. We have the tests and are continuing to explore outsourcing in possibility of testing staff. We don’t think we have manpower to test the students. Right now there are a lot of hesitations.”