Use Of Face Coverings Within the School Environment - Change to REQUIRED 12-13-21

Rutherford County Schools' policy on the use of face coverings within the school environment is linked to the level of COVID-19 transmission within our local community. Based on national data maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 transmission within Rutherford County has worsened from "Substantial" to "High" for seven consecutive days. Given that sustained increase in COVID-19 community transmission, Rutherford County Schools will transition from OPTIONAL to REQUIRED use of face coverings within the classroom setting, effective immediately. Additionally, face coverings are still REQUIRED for all occupants of white and yellow school buses, including passengers, drivers, and other occupants pursuant to a federal order issued on January 29, 2021. 

BACKGROUND

The Rutherford County Board of Education modified its policy statement on the use of face coverings in the school environment on Tuesday, November 2, and maintained that policy statement on Tuesday, December 7. Under the current policy statement, face coverings are required in the classroom setting while Rutherford County is classified as a "High" transmission zone on the CDC's COVID-19 Community Transmission Map, and face coverings are optional when the county is classified as a "Substantial," "Moderate," or "Low" transmission zone. Under the same policy statement, Rutherford County Schools will transition between the required and optional use of face coverings following Rutherford County’s reclassification on the CDC's COVID-19 Community Transmission Map for a period of seven (7) consecutive calendar days.

COVID-19 transmission in Rutherford County has now been classified as "High" for seven consecutive days: