Which Stark Schools are mandating masks- with the State of Ohio lifting the mandate, find out who is requiring masks for the school year?
Individual schools are in charge thus far of COVID-19 protocols for the upcoming 2021-2022 academic school year. They are taking recommendations from the Ohio Health department as well as the Stark County Health Department into consideration and plans are always subject to change. CDC has recommended face coverings be worn on all school buses (or other modes of public transportation).
Stark County
Alliance City Schools: “Staff who work with students in preschool through 5th grade will be required to wear masks along with the students. The staff at the middle school and high school are strongly encouraged to wear masks while in the building and around students.”
Canton City Schools: “We are implementing a universal indoor masking policy for all staff, students, and visitors beginning August 2, 2021.”
Fairless Local Schools: “We will not require the students to wear masks or social distance. Our plan for the 2021-2022 school year, is to open and operate as a normal school year. We are happy to have ALL students back into our classrooms face-to-face and return to having all events and extra-curricular activities without any restrictions. We will not be providing the Fairless Digital Academy for this coming school year.”
Jackson Local Schools:Masks for students in school and extracurricular activities. “We are well aware of the opinions on both sides of wearing a face mask and regardless of those opinions, the Ohio Department of Health quarantine flow chart allows for asymptomatic students wearing a mask to continue in-person instruction AND extracurricular school activities. In order for us to maintain
in-person instruction, wearing a face mask is the best option to stay within the guidelines of the ODH quarantine flow chart.”
Lake Local Schools: “During the 2020-2021 school year, Lake Local School District provided face-to-face instruction for the entire year for all students. The district also provided an online learning option for students as well.” A phone call with Lake Local Schools 7/29/21 confirmed that masks are optional this year.
Louisville City Schools: “To keep the maximum number of students and staff in school, we have decided to implement another layer of protection by requiring face coverings for students and staff inside our buildings beginning after the Labor Day break on Tuesday, September 7.”
Marlington Local Schools: A phone call with the Superintendent’s office on 7/29/21 indicated no mask mandate currently.
Massillon City Schools: “Require face coverings for all students and staff inside all district buildings and school buses beginning on Tuesday, September 7th-Thursday, September 30th.”
Minerva Local Schools: “Effective Tuesday, September 7th, all Minerva Local School buildings will require staff and students preschool to grade 12 to wear a face covering.“
North Canton City Schools: “As of July 20, 2021, face coverings are not required but are recommended for students and staff that are not vaccinated while indoors. Activities and events will be open to families and the public. Face coverings, however, are required on all school transportation vehicles.”
Northwest: “All faculty and staff are required to wear masks immediately beginning Wednesday, September 1 while in school, on school buses, or with any interaction with other people. Students from Kindergarten through the 5th grade will be required to wear masks beginning on Tuesday, September 7. This will include masks worn indoors on school grounds and on school buses to and from school.
Students from the 6th grade through the 12th grade will also be required to wear masks unless a parent signs off on an “Opt Out” form submitted to the Main Office at Northwest High School or Northwest Middle School. This form must be signed and turned into the Main Office by the beginning of the school day on Tuesday, September 7. For students who do not turn in the “Opt Out” form, they are required to wear masks on Tuesday, September 7. Some may ask, “Why are students at the High School and Middle School given permission to opt out?” The answer is this: Students at the High School and Middle School can be vaccinated. Our younger students cannot be vaccinated; therefore, we are requiring our younger students to wear masks until our current situation improves. Remember, if a student opts out and we conduct contact tracing, that student may risk quarantining if identified as a close contact person. In other words, the child risks missing a lot of school without wearing a mask.
• All students will be required to wear masks on school buses to and from school. Masks must also be worn when traveling on buses due to extra-curricular events.
• For extra-curricular events, as of right now, masks will remain recommended and not required.”
Osnaburg Local Schools: Canton Repository is reporting they are mandating masks, there is no information on their social media or school website as of 8pm on 9/2/21.
Plain Local Schools: “Tuesday, September 7, 2021 all students and staff grades K-12 will be required to wear a mask while inside all school buildings.”
Perry Local Schools: “…all staff and students will be required to wear a mask indoors and on the bus upon return from Labor Day, Tuesday, September 7, 2021.”
Sandy Valley Local: “With the recent spike of active cases and quarantines at Sandy Valley, we will now require masks for students and staff beginning Tuesday, September 7th, while “indoors.” To be clear, this is for indoors only! Mask wearing remains optional for both recess and outdoor activities provided social distancing continues to be observed. “
Tuslaw Local Schools: “Although face masks will not be required to start the school year, we may have to re-mask should the COVID-19 infection rate rise within our community.”
All districts except, Tuslaw Local, N. Canton City, Marlington Local & Lake Local are mandating masks in the school buildings as of 9/2/21, however, stances are changing daily as new information is being released.
Stay on top of COVID-19 Cases in your School District, Stark County
