Area schools to require masks for students and teachers starting Friday, Aug. 20

Masks Requirement Will Go Into Effect August 20 for School Districts

The New Albany and Union County School Districts held special called board meetings on Thursday, August 19.  Based on recommendations from the Health Advisory Committees, the boards approved a mask requirement.  Both school boards unanimously approved the recommendations requiring masks.

Masks will be mandatory throughout both school districts beginning Friday, August 20.  Masks will be required for all employees and students regardless of their vaccination status.  School administration and school boards will reevaluate the mask requirement on September 3.

“We feel at this time this is our best course of action to keep students and staff healthy and to keep our schools open without having to transition to full virtual school for all students,” said Russell Taylor, Superintendent of Education for Union County Schools.

COVID data will continue to be tracked daily.  Numbers for quarantines and positive cases will be reviewed and discussed among administrators, school nurses, and the advisory committees each Friday.

After two full weeks of school, the numbers of students and staff affected have continued to increase, especially the numbers of students and staff quarantined.

“When looking at state level data, this week Union County’s-the entire county, not just school districts within the county-positivity rate is 16.3%.  This information is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker) and Dr. Thomas Dobbs recommended this website as our most reliable source of county and statewide data,” said Dr. Lance Evans, New Albany School District Superintendent.  “The school districts have worked close together to make the return to school safe and healthy. Our school districts believe this is the next obvious step in protecting not only our students and staff, but our entire community.”