ISD 191 To Require Masks For 2021-22 School Year

BURNSVILLE, MN — Independent School District 191 recently announced that it is requiring masks for students, staff and visitors for the 2021-22 school year.

The Board of Education approved the mandate Thursday, which was recommended by Superintendent Theresa Battle after she had consulted with the district's COVID-19 advisory committee, the district said. The recommendation also came after new recommendations from the CDC and MDH.

The resolution adopted by the Board of Education gives Battle flexibility to adjust health and safety protocols in response to guidances by the CDC and MDH, the district said.

The district's mask mandate applies to everybody ages three and over, but exceptions and accommodations will be allowed as outlined by the MDH, the district said.

No decision about mask mandates for athletics and activities was made at Thursday's meeting, the district said.

The District 191 Activities & Athletics COVID Advisory Committee met on Friday to discuss expectations for district activities, the district said.

“Given the recommendations of health leaders, the rising rates of COVID-19 in our community, and the fact that so many of our students aren’t or can’t yet get vaccinated, this is a reasonable step to help protect our students, staff and community, and to help us continue to offer in-person instruction,” Board Chair Eric Miller said.

The district said it will implement the following health and safety measures this fall:

• Requiring students and staff to stay home if they are ill, and leave school/work if they become ill during the day, pending assessment through a district health professional
• Reporting positive COVID-19 cases and influenza outbreaks to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), as required
• Promoting individual hygiene practices that limit the spread of disease, including “covering your cough” and washing hands, through signage and as embedded practices in daily schedules
• Promoting social distancing wherever possible, including during activities/athletics and other events
• Minimizing the mixing of student groups (“cohorting”), possible
• Following federal mask mandates on school buses
• Sharing vaccine information and resources
• Cleaning and disinfection of high-touch services
• Operating ventilation systems at longer run times and maximizing outside air intake into building spaces
• Maintaining a 1-to-1 ratio of personal learning devices for students in order to minimize sharing of resources and provide flexibility for individual learning
• Monitoring and analyzing COVID-19 community data to determine the need to adjust mitigation strategies along with available vaccinations and access

See also: ISD 191 Requires Face Masks For Remainder Of Summer