• On Saturday, July 25th Executive Order 20-81 went into effect requiring Minnesotans to wear a face covering in indoor public settings.  All students in grades K-12, staff, and visitors are required to wear a face-covering while inside the school buildings and riding school transportation vehicles.

    Types of allowable face coverings include:
    *In accordance with Executive Order 20-81

    • Paper or disposable mask
    • Neck Gaiter
    • Cloth face mask
    • Bandanna
    • Religious face covering 

    The covering should cover the nose and mouth completely, should not be overly tight or restrictive, and should feel comfortable to wear.  Cloth face coverings should be washed daily.

    Types of masks not allowed:

    • Those that incorporate a valve designed to facilitate easy exhaling
    • Mesh Masks
    • Masks with openings, holes, visible gaps in the design or material
    • Masks with vents

    Face Shields:
    A face shield (a clear plastic barrier that covers the face) allows visibility of facial expressions and lip movements for speech perception and may be used as an alternative to a face covering in the following situations: 

    • By teachers (all grades), when wearing a face covering may impede the educational process.
    • Among students in Kindergarten through grade 8, when wearing a face covering is problematic.
    • For staff, students, or visitors who cannot tolerate a face-covering due to a developmental, medical, or behavioral health condition of which is documented by a medical doctor.
    • For staff providing direct support student services, when a face covering impedes the service being provided.

    A face shield must extend below the chin, covering the nose and mouth completely, to the ears laterally, and there should be no exposed gap between the forehead and the shield’s headpiece.  Face shields that do not fit these parameters are not allowed and should not be worn to school or on school district transportation vehicles.

    In order to use a face shield as an alternative in the above specific situations, preapproval is required by the building principal.

    Face coverings may be temporarily removed while:

    • Eating or drinking
    • While playing musical instruments
    • While engaging in physical activities where the level of exertion makes it difficult
      • Previous guidance allowing face coverings to be removed during high exertion activities is no longer applicable. (EO 21-01 and EO 21-07)
    • During classes or activities held outdoors as long as social distancing can be maintained.

    Important to Remember:

    All face coverings must comply with district policy #504 - Student Dress and Appearance 

    A face covering is not meant to substitute for social distancing, but is especially important in situations when maintaining a 6-foot distance is not possible.

    Families who do not support their students wearing face coverings, according to the above parameters should choose Virtual Learning, for their students.