Parents in the South Butler County School District need to be patient if they receive late notice that school is closing down or restarting as the school year plays out.

David Foley, superintendent, said at Wednesday night's school board meeting that according to the attestation form signed by district officials, the school could abruptly close down or start back up based on COVID-19 reports.

Foley said that in the primary center, middle school and high school — where there are more than 500 students — if there are four to six people who test positive, the school will close down for three days.

In seven or more cases, the school would shut down for 14 days.

“That's the requirement from the (state) Department of Health,” Foley said.

He said if a case is reported to him after school hours that would necessitate an immediate closure, parents could be notified in the evening that school would be canceled for the next day.

“I'm very, very concerned about this,” Foley said.

With the high number of cases in the county and state, Foley expects starts and stops moving forward.

“At what point is it not good for teaching and learning?” he said.

He said school nurses have received the COVID-19 vaccine at Butler Health System, and a majority of teachers have reported that they will get the vaccine when it is available.

But until then, students could find themselves learning alternately at school and at home based on the number of cases reported in each school.

“It's going to be a bumpy ride going through the spring,” Foley said. “I'm hoping the parents are prepared for some starts and stops and have backup plans.”

Also at the meeting, Foley said he will ask the board to approve a measure at next week's meetings to allow athletes to play without masks, but wear masks if on the bench or anytime they are not at play during a game.

He said the recommendation is based on discussions with a pediatrician.

Of the seven to nine teams in South Butler's football conference, two play while wearing masks, Foley said.

Wrestlers also are included in the recommendation, meaning the only time a wrestler could be without a mask during a match is while he is wrestling an opponent.

The board will make a decision on the issue at its Wednesday, Jan. 13, meeting.