Keota School District staff and students are now required to wear a face mask during the school day. The Keota Board of Education voted Thursday to create a mandatory mask policy to align with new guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health. That guidance states if a COVID-19 positive individual and a close contact are both consistently and properly wearing a face mask, meaning the mask is covering the nose and mouth, the close contact does not have to quarantine for 14 days. The positive case will still need to self-isolate, while the close contact will need to monitor their symptoms and self-isolate if needed. 

Superintendent Jim Henrich says implementing this policy could cut down on the number of students and staff in quarantine due to coming in contact with a positive COVID-19 individual. All students in grades 4-12 and staff will be required to wear a face mask in the school building and on bus rides. Pre-kindergarten through third grade students are encouraged to wear masks as well. Community members attending indoor winter activities will be required to wear a face mask, unless for a religious reason or documented medical condition. This resolution will be in effect until further notice.