August 5, 2020 Issue, Page 1 of 9

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Serving Western Oklahoma Wednesday, August 5, 2020 Weekday Edition School district continues to explore | decision on mask-wearing By Don Munsch, Editor School children are a week away from heading back to class in reopened schools, but no decisions have been made on whether they and others at Elk City Public Schools cam- puses will be required to wear masks to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Mask-wearing made up a significant part of the discussion wasunable to determine ‘which day ‘the man died. at the Safe & Healthy Schools Districtwide Planning Com- ae has had CovID- 19.CAEIEATEED mittee meeting held on Zoom on July 29. Another meeting, an in-person get-together, is slated for today at the high school. The committee consists ofdistrict officials and cam- pus representatives along with parents, residents, students and health department and community leaders. Of the 45 members of the committee, 38 logged in for some part the July 29 meeting, said Robin Coffman, curricu- lum director for Elk City Public Schools. Some people were late and some had to leave early because of their schedules. “T felt really good about 38 out of 45 making the meeting,” Masked up and ready for school. Photo by Coffman said. MetroCreative.com. She said the committee revised the district’s Return to Learn plan to make it a little more specific to the procedures Former city who have concerns about the negative effects of the children wearing them at school. Some committee members thought members looked over the plans and advised whether they children wear masks and to keep them on correctly and re- employees speak that the district will be doing when school starts. Committee there would be a constant battle for teachers to have younger were in favor or opposed it and then commented if they frain them from getting dirty or wet. Plus, masks could be wished. a source of anxiety for younger children and those children out on previous jobs “Our biggest comments came in the form of the discus- with special needs, Coffman said. sion over masks, whether masks would be required of our The State Board of Education decided to allow school dis- By Don Munsch, Editor students and or staff in school,” Coffman said. trict boards to make their own decisions on masks. The dis- Tad Boone worked as a safety officer in Elk City for nearly People of both sides of the mask issue expressed their cussion for the committee will continue today. The school three years and was let go in June in what was described by board meets on Aug. 10, when a final discussion could be interim City Manager Tom Ivester as a cost-cutting move. views at the meeting. Coffman said there is scientific proof that masks can help prevent spread of the coronavirus, but made then. These days, Boone is waiting for his unemployment to at the same time, she said there are committee members See Mask page 2. kick in. He said last week that when the city dismissed him, he thought it had apparently violated a state law on munici- palities with certain numbers of employees requiring health Immunization clinics and safety officers. Before coming to Elk City, he was the safety manager for Western Equipment and before that he was an environmen- tal health and safety officer for Chesapeake Energy. When offered in Elk City, Sayre Boone was terminated by the city in June, he was not of- fered another job. Boone said when he was let go, he advised Ivester that the city needed someone in his role because of state labor laws. The District 5 Southwest Oklahoma County Health De- COVID-19 seems to have consumed the public’s attention partments said back to school immunization clinics will be “T told him that by law, the department of labor requires the last several months, health officials said, and as parents each municipality with 25 or more employees to have a today through Friday in Elk City and Sayre. The clinics be- and students prepare to return to school, the county health health and safety coordinator,” Boone said. gan Monday, Boone said Ivester then told him the city would make do Clinics will be held at the county health department clinics department is providing the dedicated times beginning for and advised him to clean out his office. Boone said he was in Elk City and Sayre, with available hours for the clinics children to get up to date on their required childhood im- not told why he was terminated, and he does not think it was being 3 to 6 p.m. today and Thursday and 1-5 p.m. Friday. munizations. done to save money for the city. Those hours are the same for both towns. “The recent COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the Ivester, who said the city never had a health and safety of- Health officials said immunizations can protect against wide-reaching impact of a disease that is not easily treated ficer before Boone, said the city is in compliance with state 14 serious childhood diseases, including measles, influ- laws. The statute states the employer — the city — needs to enza (flu), tetanus, polio and whooping cough (pertussis). or prevented without a vaccine,” the release stated, adding designate an employee who shall coordinate all safety pro- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- that at the clinics parents “must bring a valid ID, insurance grams of the tion (CDC), among children born between 1994 and 2018, if applicable, and accompany all children under 18 years of See Employees page 2. vaccination will prevent an estimated 419 million illnesses, age. Precautions are being taken to protect both patients and Festival to be held 26.8 million hospitalizations and 936,000 deaths over their staff, including; using masks, screening patients and taking lifetimes, a District 5 news release stated. “But vaccines do not work unless they are used,” the re- temperatures onsite as well as practicing physical distancing lease stated. in the waiting areas.” this weekend By Don Munsch, Editor Pandemic forces postponement The Elk City Route 66 Festival will be held Friday and Saturday in Elk City, with the Elk City Convention & Visi- tors Bureau sponsoring the “King & Queen of the Road” of music fest at SWOSU Night. contest on Friday for the Elk City Route 66 Festival Cruise The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted Southwestern “We know students are looking forward to SWOSUpaloo- People can drop by at 7 p.m. Friday at the National Route Oklahoma State University officials to reschedule SWOSU- za, but we thought at this time because of the pandemic, we 66 Museum to enter the contest. All entries must partici- palooza 2020, a music event, from August to October. should wait to have the concert,” said Brian Adler, chair of pate in the Route 66 Cruise and be present at Block Party SWOSUpalooza has been rescheduled for Oct, 22, during the co-sponsoring Panorama Committee, in the release. “We EIk City at 9 p.m. for coronation, according to information Homecoming Week at SWOSU in Weatherford, the univer- are fortunate that Flatland Cavalry, Mike Ryan and Triston from Visit Elk City. People are encouraged to wear 1950s sity stated in a release. Sock Hop attire or the era of their choice. A block party Marez all agreed to the switch.” Flatland Cavalry, Mike Ryan and Triston Marez will be will be held from 6-9 p.m. behind First National Bank. SWoOSUpalooza is sponsored by the Student Government perform at this year’s SWOSUpalooza, which will be held Saturday’s activities include a car, truck and motorcycle in the Pioneer Cellular Event Center. Association and the Panorama Series. show and music, shopping, inflatables, food and a corn- SWOSUpalooza was scheduled for Aug. 20. Tickets al- Tickets are available on stubwire.com at share.swosu.edu/ hole tournament, according to the Elk City Chamber Com- ready purchased on stubwire will be honored at the Oct. 22 SWOSUpalooza2020 or in the SWOSU Public Relations merce. This weekend - Friday through Sunday - is also tax- concert. See SWOSU page 2. free weekend in Oklahoma. Weather Vol. 118, No. 62 Mail delivery View online AANA tomorrow 97 / 76 75 cents, 8 pgs. 580.225.3000 elkcityoknews.com