Face Masks Not Required for ROCORI Schools, Except on Buses

(KNSI) – When students in the ROCORI School District return to class on September 9th, face masks will be optional.

Guidance from the district’s 2021-2022 Safe Return to School Plan states that ROCORI “will follow state or federal guidelines in regards to face coverings. Currently, face coverings are required on school transportation vehicles.”

Minnesota currently does not have a statewide mask mandate, though a federal masking requirement is still in effect for transportation like buses and airplanes.

The district says it will maintain distance between students and staff when possible, but “because we cannot maintain physical distancing (6 feet and 3 feet) at all times in our district during inperson instruction, we will require families to be vigilant in self-screening measures.” If a student starts displaying potential COVID-19 symptoms while at school, the district’s guidance says it will provide a face mask for them and designate a space for symptomatic students to wait to be picked up from school.

The Sauk Rapids-Rice School District decided this week to make masks optional for the start of the school year, while the St. Cloud Area School District and the Sartell-St. Stephen School District will require face masks in school buildings for students, staff and visitors.

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