Mask Mandate Extended Through Mid-February At Osseo Area Schools

MAPLE GROVE, MN — Students, staff and visitors at Osseo Area Schools must continue wearing masks through mid-February after the district’s board voted to extend its mask mandate.

The mandate is due to remain in place until Feb. 18, after which administration officials will decide whether to continue requiring face coverings at each school based on case rates and absences.

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Officials said the school-by-school model will have three tiers — green: not required; yellow: strongly recommended; and red: required. Schools will move between the three tiers based on an average of student and staff absences over the previous five days.

Elementary schools will move into the red tier if 6.2 percent or more of students and staff are absent in a five-day period, while middle schools will move into the red tier at 4.9 percent or higher, the district said.

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The high school will require masks be worn if 7.8 percent of students and staff are absent in a five-day period, while the Osseo Area Learning Center will require masks if it reaches an absence level of 30 percent.

District officials said they will tell students, families and staff about any changes to the masking requirements at their schools on Fridays, starting Feb. 18. Any changes would take effect the following Monday.

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Students must continue to wear masks on public transportation until at least March 16.