Mask Requirement Reinstated in the Ames CSD

At tonight’s Special School Board Meeting, the Ames Board of Directors voted to reinstate a mask requirement at all of our school buildings. The mask requirement will go into effect this Friday, September 17, and applies to all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to our school buildings. 

Earlier this week, a federal court in Iowa granted a motion for a temporary restraining order that blocked the Governor and the Iowa Department of Education (DE) from enforcing the state’s ban on mask mandates in schools. This court ruling has allowed state school boards to consider mask requirements. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control strongly recommends face masks be worn in schools, regardless of a person’s vaccination status, and so this requirement aligns with the advice of the nation’s public health experts.

With tonight’s action, we will be working to update our COVID-19 FAQ page on our website. While we do that, here are a few key details related to the mask requirement:

• Students, staff, and visitors should provide their own face mask. If a student loses or forgets their masks, each school has disposable masks available. 
• This requirement applies to our indoor extracurricular activities and athletic events as well. Face masks are not required but are still strongly encouraged at events held outside, such as home football games. 

Leading into this decision, the school board, as well as the superintendent of Ames Schools, received and read emails from many community members on both sides of this topic. Thank you for your voice leading to this decision.