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We're watching a press conference about Mustang Public School's "in-school quarantine" program: https://www.news9.com/videolivestream?liveStream=https://live.field59.com/kwtv/kwtv3/playlist.m3u8
First Lady Sarah Stitt says some students are left behind by distance learning. She says mental health issues are a problem as well. "It's clear that in-person learning is best and safest for all Oklahoma's children."
The first lady is not wearing her mask correctly.
Mustang Superintendent Charles Bradley acknowledges the speakers plus two of his school board members. "We are education professionals. That's what we do: educate. We are not health professionals."
Superintendent Bradley this is a pilot program developed by the Oklahoma State Health Department. He said any #oklaed districts can participate.
Superintendent Bradley: "We're choosing to do the daily testing."
Superintendent Bradley said this is a voluntary program for students. "We just provide the environment for it." Students are administered a rapid test; if they're negative, they can go into the class area.
Superintendent Bradley: "We're trying to identify an adult to supervise the setting."
How about admin?
How about admin?
Now up: Education Secretary Ryan Walters. "Learning happens best in the classroom."
Secretary Walters says Oklahoma students are falling behind. "We have to be safe, but we have to get our kids back in school. Their future success depend on it."
Secretary Walters: "I hope to see other school districts follow Mustang's lead."
Interim Health Commissioner Lance T. Frye: "We believe these changes will help quarantine compliance."
Commissioner Frye: "This is a contagious virus that's spreading rapidly through our community. We must not grow weary."
A reporter asks if other districts are planning to do this. Commissioner Frye said some #oklaed districts are asking. "We want to make sure it's safe, and we understand that every school might not have the proper setting for it."
Commissioner Frye said there's no cost to #oklaed for this because the rapid tests are provided by the federal government for schools.
A reporter askes how many staff members have been ID'd to supervise this room. Superintendent Bradley: "At this point, we've had a Google Meet with our staff, was able to answer lots of questions there."
Superintendent Bradley said the program will start as soon as the tests are available.
A reporter asked what data district officials will be tracking. Superintendent Bradley said positivity rates of students in the "in-quarantine" setting.
Commissioner Frye: "We want to know if it's safe for kids to not be in quarantine or do they need to be in quarantine. What's the safety of it?"
A reporter asked if State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister has been involved in this. Commissioner Frye: "She knows about it. We've discussed it many times. She was not involved in the development of it. She's aware of it."
A reporter asks how health officials will know if schools are implementing the in-school quarantine program appropriately. Deputy Health Commissioner Keith Reed says there won't really be compliance checks by health officials.
A reporter asks how #oklaed can help fight the pandemic. Commissioner Frye: "We're trying to see what impact schools actually do have." He says closing schools may not really help.
Reporter: "So you're just waiting and seeing? And Mustang will be the guinea pig?"
Commissioner Frye: "I wouldn't call it a guinea pig." He said they were chosen because they have "great data."
Commissioner Frye: "I wouldn't call it a guinea pig." He said they were chosen because they have "great data."
A reporter asked Secretary Walters if he wants other districts to do this. He says yes.
Commissioner Frye said he hopes there will be useable data from this experiment to see if the idea should be expanded.
The press conference is over. We'll have a response shortly.
