(Atlantic) The Atlantic School Board voted unanimously at a special meeting on Wednesday afternoon to extend the temporary face mask policy through December 10.
On October 23, the Atlantic School Board approved a temporary face mask mandate policy requiring face coverings when social distancing was impossible. Attached to the policy was the stipulation the board would re-evaluate the policy within 30 days based on statistics in the district and Cass County.
Atlantic Schools Superintendent Steve Barber says from October 1 to October 22; the district ranged from three to four cases per week. After the policy went into effect on October 23, the cases ranged from one to four per week. Before enacting the face mask policy, staff quarantines ranged from three to eleven and quarantined students from 35 to 93. Since the quarantine was enacted, the staff quarantines have ranged from two to seven, and from 24 to 61 students quarantined. On October 29, the county rate was 22.1 percent, and as of this morning, it was 18.8 percent.
Atlantic School Board member Nick Hunt made the motion to extend the temporary mask mandate until December 10.
School Board member Laura McLean noted a report from Schuler Elementary Principal James Northwick.
Board member Kristy Pellett voiced her concern about students and staff at Washington Elementary, where students are required to wear masks all day because socially distancing is not possible in that facility.
School Board President Jenny Williams echoed Pellett’s concern about the lack of space at Washington Elementary.
Atlantic School Board member Josh McLaren pointed out that the mitigation is working and praised the staff, administration, students, and parents for their efforts.
The board meets again on December 9.
