The Wichita school board has unanimously approved an indoor mask requirement for students. During their meeting Monday night, the board approved the requirement for all students ages 3 and older, starting August 30th.
The decision is based on recent recommendations from local health officials and from the Centers for Disease Control. Sedgwick County’s Local Health Officer, Dr. Garold Minns, called for a mask requirement last week, but county commissioners voted to receive and file the recommendation rather than put it into effect.
Wichita Superintendent Alicia Thompson told board members that 194 students and 51 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. Out of 7,633 employees, 74 are in quarantine.
The board plans to review the mask mandate on a regular basis to determine if it should stay in place.
