By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
St. Joseph public school children and all staff and visitors to St. Joseph public schools will be required to wear masks.
The St. Joseph School Board has voted to require masks be worn in St. Joseph public schools beginning August 23rd, the first day of school. Masks will be required regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
The school board voted 5 to 1 with one abstention during a special meeting today (MON) to require masks at the start of this school year.
“We listened to our constituents - students, parents and staff and data from the CDC and our local health care professionals,” School Board President Tami Pasley stated. “The majority of staff, parents and students were in favor of a mask mandate at the start of school.”
Anyone entering a St. Josph public school building will be required to wear a mask. Masks also will be required on school buses. Social distancing of at least three feet will be required in the classroom. The school district is also strongly encouraging frequent cleaning and sanitizing of high-touch areas and the use of hand washing and hand sanitizer.
“Our decision is based on data and information,” Superintendent Doug Van Zyl said. “The safety and well-being of our students and staff is paramount. We will continue to do everything in our control to create a learning environment in our buildings where our students and staff feel safe. Each district must look at the data and choose what is best for their community.”
The school district states that while masks were optional for its summer programs, the increase in COVID-19 cases in St. Joseph has prompted the school board to choose to start the school year with a mask mandate.