MASON CITY – At the Mason City Community School District Board of Education meeting to be held on September 20, 2021, the Board Meeting Agenda will have an agenda item related to Masks Mandate. This is in follow up to the temporary restraining order a federal judge in Des Moines granted on September 13 prohibiting the State of Iowa from enforcing section 280.31 (prohibiting public school districts from requiring masks or face coverings for employees, students, or visitors). The order, which can be read in full here https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21061751-federal-temporary-restraining-order-iowa-house-file-847, is effective immediately. This allows each local school board to make the decision whether to require masks in school buildings as part of their COVID mitigation plan. The current mitigation plan for the district recommends the wearing of masks in school buildings.
Due to the physical limitations of the Board Room and the time limitations of Open Forum set by Board Policy 213, the Board is requesting written comments on this agenda item topic from the school district community and the Mason City community to help the Board make an informed decision about this question. Students, staff, parents and the public may share their thoughts and opinions on the requirement of masks by visiting the school district website, www.masoncityschools.org and clicking on the link in the article “Request for Comment Submission on Mandating Masks in School”
These comments will be shared with the board directors prior to the meeting and included as a supporting document on the agenda and recorded in the minutes of the meeting the same as comments made during Open Forum. Comments must be submitted by Friday, September 17, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. (CDT).
