Beginning Monday, March 7, face coverings will no longer be universally required in District schools, buildings or on buses. This latest update aligns with the recommendations from the Center for Disease Control.
Per the Health & Safety Plan, the district will follow the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels to determine when to require face coverings. Currently, the CDC COVID-19 Community Level for Lancaster County is low. During this phase, students, staff, and visitors will:
- Wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk.
“We understand that this is a shift in practice for our staff and our students,” Superintendent Rau said. “As always in SDoL, we will seek to ensure an inclusive and respectful environment. Those who choose to continue to wear face coverings as a personal preference or due to their personal level of risk are encouraged to do so. We will use the remainder of this week to talk with students, particularly young students who have never attended school without a mask, to prepare them for this change, as well as update our building signage.”
The district’s mitigation team will continue to monitor our internal and local health data, make recommendations as appropriate, and communicate any further changes to COVID mitigation as they occur.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, our school board has sought always to follow the recommendations of our public health agencies and local healthcare partners, erring on the side of safety.” added Rau. “We are very grateful to our entire school community for your ongoing understanding, cooperation and support.”