The Washington School Board discussed their COVID-19 mitigation strategy during their meeting Wednesday, following Governor Kim Reynolds’ removal of a mask mandate and other restrictions.

Superintendent Willie Stone announced that the district is continuing their mask requirements and their current spectator regulations at events for the rest of the regular season, “We’re going to continue requiring masks all the time in school until the requirements for quarantine change. With our ability to have students in the building and both be masked up and not have to worry about quarantine if we can’t social distance, it just doesn’t make sense for us not to continue that until we’re through this pandemic or until the quarantine requirements change.”

Stone mentions that the board’s foresight to require face masks at the beginning of the school year has helped them keep in-person learning. As of February 10th the district’s student absenteeism percentage due to COVID-19 or other illness was at 1.8%, with less than six students absent due to COVID-19 symptoms or a positive test, two absent due to exposure, and 23 absent for other illnesses. Despite the pandemic and winter-related cancellation and school delays, Stone says he’s pleased with how the school year has gone so far in what the district has been able to provide to students.