The Hermitage Board of Education voted 6-0 Thursday evening, September 2, 2021 to require masks to be worn when indoors at any Hermitage Schools building where social distancing of six feet is not an option as well as on school buses.
Thursday’s meeting was a special called meeting specifically for the discussion of possibly updating the Hermitage Schools mask policy. Superintendent Dr. Tracy Tucker opened the talk by informing the Board members of the current COVID-19 situation within the district. Hermitage’s school district is currently rated as a “red” district because of the high numbers of quarantines in place at the moment among the population.
Dr. Tucker recommended that the School Board pass a resolution mandating masks for both staff and students in certain situations. First, masks will be required only when in “indoor spaces where social distancing of 6 feet between all people present can not be achieved.” Second, masks are required on all Hermitage School buses. The resolution also states that the District will not mandate masks for students or individuals with a medical condition or disability diagnosed by a physician. Acceptable documentation of the physician’s orders are required to be provided to the school principal in order to be exempt for the mandate.
The School Board will review the mandate each month and make any necessary changes bases on local COVID-19 data.
Board members voted 6-0 in favor of the mask resolution. One Board member abstained.