STEVENS POINT and MERRILL, WI (WSAU) — Two local school districts announced different face-covering policies for the start of the upcoming school year as COVID-19 continues to spread.
The Stevens Point Area School District announced that face coverings will be required regardless of vaccination status through the end of September. In a statement district officials said “over the course of the next few weeks, we will welcome approximately 7,100 students and 1,200 team members back into our 15 schools and other District buildings. Our primary responsibility to our students, and this community, is to maintain and evaluate mitigation strategies that preserve face-to-face educational opportunities for students. At this time, face-coverings/masks are being recommended by the CDC, Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, and Portage County Health and Human Services. We believe that keeping this mitigation tactic in place as we return to school, provides the best chance of maintaining in-person learning, 5 days a week for the highest number of students.”
Face coverings will not be required for outdoor activities such as recess, outdoor classroom time, outdoor athletic practices, or when actively eating or drinking. Parents of children who cannot wear face coverings due to a medical condition should contact the school district immediately.
The face-covering requirement will be in effect starting Monday, August 23rd.
Meanwhile, officials in the Merrill school district have announced that they will keep masks optional for students and staff for the upcoming year, but will require a three-foot distance to be kept between students when in classroom settings.
“In our buildings, and our recess and any other time on our instructional day, those face masks are optional,” said Superintendent John Sample in a statement to WAOW TV.
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