Columbia Public Schools may change mask requirements after the school year starts
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia Public Schools will require students and workers to wear masks indoors and on buses when classes start later this month.
"We will be requiring masks for all of our students and staff as we begin this school year,” said Michelle Baumstark the CPS chief communications officer. "We will evaluate again at a later date but right now our goal, purpose, everything is to have all of our students fully in person and to keep them safe and to make that possible for us to be fully together in person for as long as we can.”
The district sent a letter to families on Friday announcing the decision.
"To keep our scholars safe and learning in person, with as little interruption as possible due to illness or quarantine because of close contact with a positive case, we will begin the school year with a requirement that all scholars and adults, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks when indoors and on buses," the district said in the letter.
"Wearing masks indoors is one mitigation strategy that will provide an additional layer of protection to keep all students and staff safe and in school. We know not everyone will agree with this decision. We have listened closely and intentionally to many voices and opinions. This decision is not a forever decision, but it is a decision that is currently necessary."
CPS has about 19,000 students and 3,000 employees in 42 buildings.
The district says it will continue to monitor the situation and update the policy if needed. The district is also encouraging all students and staff to be vaccinated. CPS says families should monitor their children for sickness and keep kids with symptoms home.
“Certainly going through new contact tracing and quarantine protocols coupled with what our mitigation strategies our layers of protection, you're helping us by doing those morning checks," Baumstark said. "So making sure that you come to school when you're healthy and don't come to school when you're sick, so that we can all remain safely in person for a full school year.”
Classes begin for most students Aug. 24. The mask rule takes effect Monday.
The district has reported 849 coronavirus infections in students since June 2020 and 4,270 in quarantine during that time. CPS mandated masks for the final weeks of summer school this year amid an uptick in student cases and quarantines as the coronavirus started to surge locally.
Boone County reported 687 active cases Friday. The average daily case level is comparable to levels seen in February, before vaccines were widely available. The state reports 48% of Boone County residents have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Columbia Public Schools spent long stretches of last year in virtual-only education because of coronavirus transmission rates. Several classes were also forced to learn online during quarantine after being exposed to the coronavirus. District officials say the mask mandate will help keep students in classrooms by reducing virus spread and the need for quarantines.
