St. Paul School Board Votes 3-2 To Keep Mask Requirement

ST. PAUL, MN — The indoor mask mandate for students and staff will continue in St. Paul Public Schools. The school board Tuesday voted 3-2 to keep the requirement, for now.

Board Chair Jim Vue and Vice Chair Jennifer Kopp voted to drop the mandate. Board members Chauntyll Allen, Uriah Ward, and Halla Henderson voted to keep it, the Star Tribune reported.

COVID-19 infection rates across Minnesota have been dropping rapidly since the omicron variant peaked in February, leading the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to drop their mask requirement.

The Minnesota National Guard recently pulled the last of its members from nursing homes across the state after the significant drop in COVID-19 cases.

However, district officials are wary about the potential for another surge before school is let out for the summer.