WORTHINGTON, Ohio — Worthington Schools announced the district will no longer require students, staff and visitors to wear masks indoors starting next week.
The school board voted in favor of removing the mandate and making masks strongly encouraged by a vote of 4-1 Wednesday evening. The mandate will be in effect through the rest of the week and will officially be lifted on Feb. 27.
The decision to remove the masks comes as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to trend down in Ohio.
Superintendent Dr. Trent Bowers said the board felt very strongly about respecting the choices of one another and added language to the resolution that says “no person shall be subject to discipline, harassment, or other mistreatment for choosing to voluntarily wear a mask or for not wearing a mask where such use is either not required or an exception applies."
Other central Ohio school districts like South-Western City Schools, Dublin City Schools and Hilliard City Schools have also dropped its mask requirements recently.
Students and staff who are returning to school after a COVID positive or close contact absence will be required to wear a mask for five days, regardless of symptoms or vaccination status.
Masks are still required while on school buses because of the federal mandate by the Centers for Disease Control and Disease.
To view a full list of guidelines for each central Ohio school district, click here.
