Although there are no plans to go against state law, local school administrators are unanimous in saying they prefer decisions regarding COVID-19 protocols be made locally.

This comes as the new school year begins and coincides with an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

Gov. Kevin Stitt in May signed Senate Bill 658, which prevents school districts in Oklahoma from requiring masks or vaccinations to attend.

Since then, COVID-19 cases, pushed by the highly-contagious Delta variant, have continued to climb.

According to a report issued Thursday by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, there were 2,468 new cases of coronavirus from the day before.

The seven-day average of new cases had climbed to 2,049 and there were 18,403 active cases in the state.

Exactly one month before, the same report listed 300 new cases, a seven-day average of 384 and 3,100 active cases.

There were 1,195 patients in Oklahoma hospitals due to the coronavirus, according to Thursday’s report. Of those, 321 were ICU patients (see related story on Jeanne Gang in this edition).

A month ago, those numbers were 211 and 74, respectively.

Kingfisher County Emergency Management Director Steve Loftis reported to commissioners at their meeting on Aug. 2 that there were 24 active cases in Kingfisher County.

That number was 41 at the Aug. 9 meeting and the number is expected to climb by the time of his next report.

The state’s largest school district - Oklahoma City Public Schools - announced Friday it would be defying state order beginning Monday by requiring masks in its schools.

Santa Fe South school district announced earlier in the week it would be doing the same.

COVID cases in both districts had increased exponentially since they began the 2021-22 school year.

Locally, Kingfisher, Cashion, Okarche and Hennessey started on Thursday. Lomega began its school year the day before and Dover the week before.

Administrators from each district say they prefer to make protocol decisions in conjunction with their own teachers, principals, patrons and school board.

“I’m always a fan of local control,” said Kingfisher Superintendent Dr. Daniel Craig. “I’d much rather the legislature and state board leave it to local control.”

However, added Craig, there were no intentions to defy SB 658.

“If you do that, you’re breaking state law,” he said.

Cashion’s Sammy Jackson said his school district will be following the law as well.

“Cashion Public Schools will follow all mandates passed down from the state government and our local school board,” he said.

“Local control” was brought up by each administrator when asked by the KT&FP.

“I’m always for local control,” said Hennessey Superintendent Jason Sternberger.

“I prefer local control on all or most issues,” added Okarche superintendent Josh Sumrall.

“Our school board voted to not mandate masks last year, so I assumed that would have been the same feeling this year, if we had a choice. However, if the legislation would have been the opposite and mandated masks, then we definitely would want local control over the issue.”

“Local control is always preferred,” said Dover Superintendent Max Thomas.

Districts have ditched the temperature checks at the door when students enter the buildings, which was practiced widely last year.

However, they said other precautions are being made.

“We will continue with additional cleaning,” said Sternberger.

Okarche and Lomega will continue to space out students where possible.

“We are attempting to space out students in classrooms the best that we can,” said Sumrall.

Added Lomega Superintendent Steve Shiever: “Although we’re not doing temperature checks this year, we are still practicing social distancing and recommending masks where you can’t social distance. We can’t require them, but we can recommend.”

Kingfisher is doing the same as it has signs at doors recommending masks.

The custodial staff is also doing its part.

“Our guys are cleaning everything, wiping down and spraying down,” Craig said.

Superintendents also want parents to do their part with their children.

“If your child is running a fever, don’t send them to school,” Craig said.

Thomas echoed the sentiment.

“We will have school as normal and are always sensitive to our students’ and staff’s health,” he said. “We also want the staff and students and parents to take ownership of their own health.”

Same goes for Okarche.

“We are asking parents to screen students for symptoms before they are sent to school in the morning,” Sumrall said.

Administrators said they’d had few - if any - calls regarding safety concerns from parents.