SOUTHEAST KANSAS, Kan.–Some Southeast Kansas school districts have made the decision to bring back masks.

Many school districts across Southeast Kansas have brought back masks, for at least the remainder of the week.

Two of those districts include Fort Scott and Iola.

“We’ve seen some resistance to the mask on both sides, you know, pro and con. but you know, my responsibility is the safety of our students and staff, and that was our number one and working with our health department,” said Fort Scott superintendent Ted Hessong.

Multiple school districts across Southeast Kansas are bringing back masks, at least for the remainder of the week.  

Those include the southeast school district, iola school district, fort scott school district, girard school district, and more.

Hessong,  says the descision to mask up wasn’t much of a choice, but what had to be done due to the district’s covid numbers.

“We have gating criteria that we, the board approved and came up with. we decided as a district, 2% positivity rate in a building. anything over that would put us back to mask required. We were not mask required before we reinstated the mask.”

Iola superintendent Stacy Fager says their district also follow the numbers, and decided to bring back the masks after some schools reached the four percent positivity threshold

“We have three elementary schools and two of our three elementary schools will be are in the process of wearing masks this week.”

Also back to masks this week is iola middle and high school. For fager, it’s the best way to keep kids in school, while keeping them safe.

“The main focus in conversations with our board of education, our instructors and our administration is we want to try to do everything we can to keep our buildings. open and keep our students in school. and with elevated cases, there comes a challenge”

Both superintendents say it’s the best way to ensure everyone’s safety during the current covid surge.

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