The Mid-Prairie School Board voted 4-2 at Monday’s meeting to uphold a face covering mandate until further notice. Mary Allred and Gabrielle Frederick were the two nay votes. Students and staff are required to wear a face covering while in school buildings and district vehicles when social distancing cannot be achieved. This means face shields will still be an option for students and staff. The policy has been updated and now includes mask breaks to be administered every two hours at a minimum for students throughout the school day. 

 

Students with health conditions or breathing difficulties can present a doctor’s note to be excused from wearing a face covering. Those with learning disabilities can also be exempt from wearing a face covering if recommended by their Individualized Education Program teacher.

Also, all spectators at athletic events will be required to wear a face covering while inside school buildings. 

 

The Iowa Department of Public Health’s new guidance states if an COVID-19 positive individual and a close contact are both consistently and properly wearing a mask, meaning the nose and mouth are covered, the close contact no longer has to be quarantined for 14 days. The close contact will have to monitor symptoms and self-isolate if needed. This new guidance does not include face shields, only face masks.