The mask policy approved by the Indianola School Board will require face masks for all students and staff in grades K-12, with the previous policy requiring face coverings for students and staff in grades 6-12. Superintendent Art Sathoff tells KNIA News the new policy will not allow anything but masks.
“We have a clarification from the Iowa Department of Public Health and Warren County Public Health that face shields or gaiter masks do not apply when it comes to this contact tracing policy. So people who were wearing gaiters are now expected to wear masks.”
Sathoff also said the changes were made due to new guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health regarding contact tracing, and will keep students in school if they were wearing a mask near a person who tested positive for COVID-19. The changes go into effect Monday.