An area school district has updated its COVID-19 recovery plan.

According to Marshall Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Carol Maher, the “Safe Return to School Plan” was updated as of Friday, November 5. Dr. Maher says the modifications to the plan approved by the school board include:

1) On November 5, the announcement of an administrative procedure, of which the MPS Board of Education was aware, suspended an all-district mask mandate for the interior of all MPS buildings beginning immediately. Unvaccinated individuals should consider wearing a face covering for their personal safety and that of others.

2) According to a federal order issued by the CDC, masks are required on public and private school buses. Even in schools where masks are not mandated, this order is a requirement and may not be overturned by the local school district.

3) Quarantine if you have been in close contact (within three feet of someone for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone who has COVID-19, unless the infected person consistently wore a well-fitting mask the entire time of contact; or if you have symptoms (even if you have been fully vaccinated).

4) In other words, people who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine after contact with someone who had COVID-19 unless they have symptoms. However, fully-vaccinated people should get tested three to five days after their exposure, even if they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.

Dr. Maher says this plan will be evaluated every 30 days (or sooner) by the MPS Board of Education and Administration, then revised if necessary.

The current version is attached.

MPS-Safe-Return-to-School-11-5-2021-1