R-I School Board approves a mask requirement for grades 4-12

The Poplar Bluff R-I School Board approved a mask requirement for grades 4-12 at a specially called board meeting Thursday afternoon.

The requirement goes into place Monday as that will be the next day the district is in class.

Dr. Scott Dill, superintendent, brought the issue to the board after growing concern on the number of students, especially at the high school, currently positive or in contact trace.

According to information from the district, 20 students at the high school level have tested positive and 341 are in quarantine, while the junior high has six positive students and 79 in quarantine and the middle school has four positive students and 95 in quarantine.

Overall, about 9.77% of the district is in quarantine, with most at the upper levels, Dill said.

The board decided on the mandate rather than moving the upper levels to a cohort system, where the students would be put in two groups with each at school two days a week.

Dill said the district has a supply of masks for those who need them.

For families and students who don’t want to wear the mask, the district offers a virtual program.

Dill said the transition isn’t seamless for the upper levels and depending on the situation, the students may lose credit or need to make up the first quarter online just based on how the credit transfers.

Additionally, not all of the electives available at school are available online.

“It’s not a great option, but it is an option,” Dill said.