NACS’ mask mandate to end at winter break

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Fort Wayne’s NBC) - The Northwest Allen County School (NACS) Board on Monday night passed a resolution that clears the way for a “mandatory mask” rule to expire before the holiday break.

The Board met in a virtual session that once again spent considerable time on COVID-19 health matters.

They included a resolution related to the policy enacted near the beginning of the school year which requires the use of face coverings by students, faculty and staff on campus. After some discussion, two amendments were approved and a vote was taken, passing on a 4-1 roll call.

The amended resolution reads, in part: “(NACS) will allow the face mask requirements to end on Dec. 18, 2021... and will not extend the mask requirements beyond Dec. 18, 2021, unless required to do so by federal, state or local order or statute.”

The move comes just days after the district’s younger set of students became eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination.

The first round of shots is being administered now, which allows families to have a child fully vaccinated before the mask requirement is lifted, should they so choose. Because the district will not require masks, it will be subject to more stringent quarantine rules laid out by the State of Indiana.

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