VCSB – No Action On Mask Policy: Custodial Pilot Program Approved

DeLand, FL – Despite the media fuss about the Volusia County School Board’s discussion on mask policy during a scheduled workshop yesterday (March 30), no action was taken. Florida Department of Health – Volusia (FDOH) administrator Patricia Boswell gave a detailed update to board members but in the end and after direct questioning, she advised that masks and social distancing when possible are still the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19.  District Five school board member Ruben Colon said that during yesterday’s workshop, where they don’t make any decisions, Boswell provided information on the current status of Volusia County and the CDC guidelines, which we are to follow. "They updated us on the current numbers affected by children. We were very pleased to hear that there were only 35 cases of secondary transmission." During the regularly scheduled board meeting yesterday, where they do make decisions, according to Colon, a planned pilot in-house custodial operation will move forward with hiring to begin in July. "We are looking at a pilot program, bringing back custodians, in-house, at 15 schools, in order to compare the efficacy and the quality of the cleaning as compared to the contract company that we have right now." The program includes one elementary, one middle, and one high school from each district for a total of 15 schools. The goal is to compare the difference between outsourcing and in-house custodial services. District      Elementary         Middle              High        1      Manatee Cove     DeLand            DeLand        2      Sugar Mill            Silver Sands    Mainland        3      Read Pattillo       Creekside         Spruce Creek        4     Tomoka                Holly Hill K-8    Seabreeze        5     Deltona Lakes      Heritage           Pine Ridge