Connect with us

Uncategorized

OSHA proposes fines against Grace Cascade Christian High School

Published

on

MEDFORD, Ore. — Oregon OSHA has proposed a fine against Grace Cascade Christian High School for alleged violations of the state’s coronavirus restrictions. The citation was issued on December 4 by the state agency, which has taken the lead in enforcing Governor Kate Brown’s executive orders concerning COVID-19.

According to an OSHA report, an inspector visited the high school on November 20. The inspector noted two “serious” violations — first, that the school was open in spite of the Oregon Department of Education’s requirements from the end of September through November, when Jackson County case rates were prohibitively high; and second, that mask mandates were not properly enforced.

“The school’s policy allowed for staff removing their facial covering or face shield if the instructor was distanced from students, while students were in the same room,” the citation alleges. “Students were allowed to remove their face covering or face shield while seated in their physically distanced desk location leading to ‘group mask breaks’ potential if multiple students chose to do so at the same time, exposing one or more employees to the serious health hazards of COVID-19.”

Between the two violations, the proposed penalty totals a modest $360. OSHA noted that Grace Cascade has 30 days to appeal the fine, but no appeal has yet been filed.

Businesses accused of operating in defiance of state coronavirus restrictions have often received much steeper penalties. Howard’s Pharmacy in Lakeview faced a proposed fine of $9,400 from OSHA in September for refusing to mandate masks indoors, and a Rogue River bar had its liquor license suspended by the OLCC.

Schools throughout Jackson County have largely been relegated to comprehensive distance learning since the school year began due to high local COVID-19 case rates and Oregon’s mandated metrics. However, Grace Cascade administrators signaled in early August that they would offer in-person classes while other local districts were still navigating the new ODE guidance.

In a letter to families, head of Grace Cascade schools Dr. Ken Townsend said at the time that the private schools were “not under the authority of ODE,” but beholden to their own Board of Directors, promising to send a reopening plan to Jackson County Public Health for feedback.

In October, 6th grade students at Cascade Christian Middle School were sent home after a student tested positive for coronavirus. However, there have been no indications from state or local health officials that any of the Grace Cascade schools have been the source of an outbreak of five cases or more.

The OSHA inspector did note some mitigating circumstances in “probability justification” at Cascade Christian High that may have contributed to a relatively small proposed fine:

“Regular most of the time mask usage, regular use in any close proximity, hand sanitation, social distancing, cohorts, daily health screenings, and isolation and quarantine policies,” OSHA noted. “Low infection prevalence in local schools at the time of inspection and a high elevated county case rate significantly influenced by high numbers in assisted living facilities and not fully indicative of community at large infection rate.”

You may also like…

Crime & Safety2 hours ago

Woman, who is in the process of obtaining IegaI U.S. residency, compIied with her spouse’s former girIfriend’s demands out of fear, believing she was being detained by an actual lCE agent, only to be abducted by her; police

Florida – A Florida woman was taken into custody earlier this month for allegedly lmpersonating a U.S. lmmigration and Customs...

Eugene2 days ago

Eugene community honors fallen officer on anniversary of his line-of-duty death

Eugene, OR – On April 22, the Eugene Police Department held a remembrance ceremony to honor Officer Chris Kilcullen, marking...

Eugene2 days ago

Crews respond to house fire in west Eugene, prevent spread to neighboring homes

Eugene, OR – On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at approximately 5:00 p.m., Eugene Springfield Fire (ESF) crews were dispatched to...

Eugene2 days ago

Man arrested after shots fired during altercation in Eugene apartment parking lot

Eugene, OR – On the evening of April 22, 2025, Eugene Police responded to a shots-fired call at an apartment...

Eugene2 days ago

Pedestrian killed in crash on Amazon Parkway after vehicle loses control

Eugene, OR – On the morning of April 23, 2025, at approximately 9:45 a.m., a tragic incident occurred on Amazon...

Eugene2 days ago

City of Eugene to present 2025-2027 proposed budget amid financial challenges

Eugene, OR – On Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., Eugene City Manager Sarah Medary will present the City’s...

Eugene2 days ago

Man arrested for disorderly conduct following incident at E. 11th Avenue building

Eugene, OR – On the morning of April 23, 2025, at approximately 8:21 a.m., Eugene Police responded to a distressing...

Crime & Safety4 days ago

Man, joined by his wife, gave famiIy members confIicting stories about where his chiId was after the 3-year-old had not been seen in months following the parent assauIting the boy to death, then tried to conceaI his death; charged

Missisipi – A Missisipi coupIe, 28-year-old Roddkis and his 26-year-old spouse, Cierra, were taken into custody in connection with the death...

Crime & Safety4 days ago

Man had his eyebaII ripped out after asking random passerby ‘how is he doing,’ before the man approached the victim from behind, inserted his fingers into his socket, and pulled the eyebaII out; charges

Arizona – An Arizona man was taken into custody and charged with multiple charges, including aggravated assauIt following a brutaI assauIt...

Eugene6 days ago

Eugene Police Department conducts pedestrian safety operation at 17th and Hilyard, issues citations for violations

Eugene, OR – The Eugene Police Traffic Safety Unit conducted a special pedestrian safety operation at the intersection of 17th...

Eugene6 days ago

Eugene Springfield Fire responds to commercial structure fire at Fred Meyer on Q St in Springfield

Eugene, OR – On Saturday, April 19, 2025, at approximately 6 p.m., Eugene Springfield Fire crews were dispatched to a...

Trending