Update on Mask Requirements for the 2020-2021 School Year
In response to Executive Order 20-43 issued by Governor Hutchinson on July 16th mandating face coverings when indoors and social distancing is not possible, Cross County School District will adopt an emergency policy requiring the use of face coverings or masks for staff and students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade for the 2020-2021 academic year. Masks or face coverings will be used on school buses where socially distancing is not possible due to the enclosed environment, on campus, and during extracurricular activities. As stated in Executive Order 20-43, face coverings or masks have been shown to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and represent a “less restrictive mitigation measure” to keep schools and businesses open as Arkansas continues to experience high numbers of COVID-19 cases.
Students may remove masks when eating or drinking, during lunch, and whenever adequate social distancing can be achieved. Teachers and staff will make every effort to provide mask breaks throughout the day to give students a chance to work and learn without a face covering. As much as possible, classrooms will be set up to allow for maximum distance between people so masks breaks can occur. A teacher may determine times that masks can be removed for specific instructional needs.
This emergency policy is subject to change based on guidance from federal, state, and local authorities and may be altered at any time by the school district or board. As new information becomes available from the Arkansas Department of Health and Arkansas Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, this policy will be revisited. Cross County School District is aware this may cause concern and invites parents or guardians interested in pursuing the fully virtual (online) learning option to attend the informational session on Tuesday, August 4th at 6:00 PM in the elementary school cafeteria.