Mexico School District Reminds Families of Mask Mandate
The Mexico School District is reminding parents and families they still have a mask mandate in place.
In a letter sent out to parents last night (Thursday) from Mexico Superintendent Dr. Tammy Lupardus she says the mask mandate put into place on December 7th, 2020 requires all students 1st through 12th grades and staff to properly wear a mask or appropriate face covering while on district property and while riding the bus.
Dr. Lupardus says it allows the district to continue to benefit from the modified quarantine guidance from DESE and DHSS, and allows students to continue to stay at school, learning in a face-to-face setting, instead of being excluded in the event of an exposure at school.
Below is a copy of the letter:
On December 7, 2020, the Mexico School District put a mask mandate in place, requiring all students (1st through 12th grades) and staff to properly wear a mask or appropriate face covering while on district property and while riding the bus.
Having a mask mandate in place allows us to follow guidance from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and offer a modified quarantine for masked individuals who are determined close contacts within the school.
The modified quarantine benefit for Missouri schools with a mask mandate in place include the following:
- The modified quarantine applies to close contacts. If the person identified COVID-19 positive and the close contact were both wearing masks appropriately during the time of exposure in the school setting, the close contact would not be required to quarantine from school during the day.
- The modified quarantine allows us to not be required to exclude entire classrooms from school if there is a positive COVID-19 case. This allows our students to remain in-seat and staff members to remain working as long as they remain asymptomatic for the 14 days following exposure.
CDC states COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets. These respiratory droplets travel into the air when a person coughs, sneezes, talks, shouts, or sings. The droplets can then land the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or droplets may be breathed in. CDC reports masks are a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from reaching others, and studies show masks reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth.
In order for our district to continue to benefit from the modified quarantine guidance from DESE and DHSS, the mask mandate must be in effect. By continuing to follow this guidance, this allows our students to stay at school, learning in a face-to-face setting, instead of being excluded in the event of an exposure at school.
We appreciate families working together with us to help keep our district safe for our students and staff members as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yours Truly in Education,
Dr. Tammy Lupardus, Superintendent
Ms. Emily Buck, Director of Nursing