Mask wearing for Catholic school students in the Diocese of Baton Rouge will be optional for the 2021-22 school year.
Additionally, students will not be required to provide vaccination status, according to protocols announced by Bishop Michael G. Duca in a letter released to July 15.
The bishop’s letter, which was addressed to “priests, principals and the faithful of the Diocese of Baton Rouge,” reversed a policy issued July12 that was signed by Catholic School Superintendent Dr. Melanie Palmisano, Vicar General Father Tom Ranzino, and Secretary of Education Father Paul Yi. That policy stated while on campus or at school events, all students and staff who have “fully completed the vaccination protocol” were not required to mask or maintain physical distancing if a copy of the “CDC vaccination card or verification from a similar state or medical authority is submitted.”
The original policy was met with widespread opposition from parents, clergy members and some school officials, a fact Bishop Duca acknowledged in his own letter.
He said his office “has received and heard the concerns of parents - the first teachers of their children – and other concerned members of the community regarding the difficulties of creating a safe environment for children amid changing variables.
“As your bishop, I promise to re-evaluate these and any other guidelines as necessary for the duration of this health crisis.”
In his letter, the bishop said field trips and elementary sports programs will be resumed at schools, daily temperature checks will be eliminated and guidance will be reexamined regarding other protocols including quarantining and physical distancing.
“Protecting our brothers and sisters and providing a healthy and safe environment for all, especially for our children, faculty, and staff of our Catholic schools, are chief concerns of our church,” Bishop Duca wrote. “Offering this protection has been the motivating principle guiding the creation of policies and procedures for our churches and schools throughout this pandemic.
He added the guidelines are always subject to change based on circumstances related to COVID-19, new guidance from the Center for Disease Control, the Louisiana State Department of Education and educators’ experiences in the classroom.
Requirements of the original policy mandated students remain at least three feet part in classrooms and unvaccinated adults at least six apart from other adults and students. In common areas, the policy required all individuals remain six feet apart and when eating, “unvaccinated students must remain six feet apart and vaccinated students are urged to maintain social distance when possible.”
The policy also said field trips could only be part of the school’s activities if “strict adherence” to masking, cohort grouping and transportation requirements” was followed.
“The policies listed above come from concern for the safety of all stakeholders,” the policy said. “The diocese is grateful to pastors, school leaders, faculty, staff, advisory board members, parents and students for their vigilance in embracing health and safety practices to protect others in the community.”
Bishop Duca noted the Catholic Schools Office “promulgated its back-to-school policyin an effort to reopen our schools in person and on time, all while providing consistency in protocols to manage safe operations.
“Now that the state superintendent of education has clarified the department’s return-to-school guidelines as being recommendations and not requirements, we have reconsidered elements of the policy that was distributed earlier this week.”
Catholic school students return to class beginning in August.