Edinburgh schools required masks for students and staff Monday after about 10% of its student body was identified as close contacts of COVID-19 cases.
The decision to continue the mask mandate that started was unanimously approved during Monday night’s Edinburgh school board meeting.
Indiana Department of Education policy requires schools to report to the local health department and state attendance officer if the percentage of students absent is equal to or greater than 20%.
The move to a mask mandate will likely curb the number of students who are out of school. Department of education policy states students are not required to quarantine in classrooms where everyone is wearing a mask.
The move to a mask mandate may be unpopular, but it is necessary, said Curtis Rooks, a school board member.
“Some people won’t be happy about it, but we have to do what’s best for our students and staff,” he said.
The mask mandate is the first for Edinburgh schools this year. The district is currently the only one in Johnson County with a mask mandate.
