Four teachers instructed students to tape on masks

A teaching team in Colorado Springs violated district policy and procedure last month when they “directed” students to affix COVID-19 masks to their faces with tape, according to Academy District 20 Schools.

On Oct. 15, a parent raised concerns about masks being taped to students faces at Chinook Trail Middle School if “children wore their face mask incorrectly,” according to a statement from Principal Tom Andrew sent Tuesday to the school community.

The district’s internal investigation, which received statements from more than 100 students, 10 teachers and school staff, found that the “teaching team of 642” violated policy and procedure.

“While we found that the teachers did NOT affix any student’s mask to their face, we did learn teachers directed students to affix their mask to their face with tape; and students believed they were required, by a teacher, to use tape to affix their mask to their face,” Andrew said in the statement.

Four teachers were found to be in violation, according to the district. Those teachers, who were not identified by the district, wrote an apology letter to the parents and guardians of their students.

“It was never our intent to cause anxiety, fear, confusion, or physical or emotional harm,” the apology letter said.

“Our greatest desire was to keep students in our classrooms and prevent quarantines due to COVID exposure. To follow district policy and keep students engaged with in-person learning, our team made a mistake in our methods. Please accept our deepest and most heartfelt apologies.”

A meeting was held Monday night with families of students who were impacted by the “tape masking,” the district said. Teachers in question also met with students Tuesday morning.

The district did not disclose what actions, if any, were taken against the teachers.

“We are disappointed, both by the decisions made and the outcome of the investigation. More importantly, we are disappointed this event led to learning and social and emotional impacts to our students and their families,” Andrew’s statement said. “Personnel matters are confidential, and I therefore cannot comment on the specifics of the investigation as it relates to our staff.”

The district has made counseling staff available to “any student from the class pod who may need it.”

eran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or @kierannicholson