Apr 13, 2021

Masks now optional in Ellis USD 388 schools

Posted Apr 13, 2021 8:13 PM

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

At Monday night's Ellis USD 388 Board of Education meeting, the board unanimously voted to end the mandatory mask mandate in the district's schools.

Other mitigation measures will remain in place for the time being.

The action was a recommendation from the district administration as COVID case counts in the county continue to decline.

Superintendent Corey Burton said he believes the mandate and other mitigation efforts were a significant reason the district was able to remain open through the year. 

He also said the continued decline in COVID case numbers is great.

The last quarantine of a student or staff member in the district he noted was March 5 and staff that sought vaccines were able to receive those earlier than others in the area, with the assistance of a Hill City pharmacy.

“Our staff members that wanted to take part in that have had their first and their second vaccination… right before we started spring break,” Burton said.

Surveys from staff found the majority was in favor of ending the mask mandate.

In a recent survey, only 27 percent of staff said they believe the mandate should stay in place until the end of the year, 46 said it should be optional and 26 percent said it should end completely.

So he recommended making the masks optional, while the district would continue with the rest of the mitigation strategies in the reopening plan, including extra cleaning, social distancing and temperature checks.

However, Burton said if cases begin to rise in the city or in the school, the issue should be revisited.

“It just makes sense,” to end the mandate Burton said.  “People have been really good – especially in the schools – about supporting this, but I think it gets harder to gain support if it doesn’t seem like there is a need.”

The measure passed unanimously and was made effective immediately.