By Callie Hietala
Martinsville City Schools has joined the slew of local entities easing mask requirements in the wake of new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As of March 15, masks are become optional for all city school employees. Masks also are optional on any school-provided transportation for staff and students.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Zebedee Talley made the announcement on behalf of the school board at its regular board meeting on March 14.
The meeting marked the first time in recent memory that every school board member in attendance (Jay Dickens was absent and Tony Jones attended via phone) did not wear a mask.
A March 15 letter outlined the changes in the wake of updated guidance by the CDC combined with low COVID-19 transmission rates in the area.
According to the letter, the division will “continue to contract trace per CDC guidelines and after testing positive for COVID-19, faculty, staff, and students will be required to wear well-fitting masks to return to school on days 6-10’ after a positive test.
Henry County Schools announced earlier this month that masks were optional for staff, and no longer required on school buses.
