School board makes masks optional in high and middle schools in Lee’s Summit
The Lee’s Summit School Board on Thursday made masks optional for students in the district’s high and middle schools.
The board, however, voted to extend its mask mandate for its pre-kindergarten through elementary schools through Dec. 21. The mandate applies to staff, students and visitors.
Masks will also be optional at other district facilities.
During the discussion, board member Kim Fritchie said that she believed COVID-19 was never going to go away and that it will become a fact of life that we have to learn to live and deal with.
“We cannot remain in this holding pattern forever,” she said. “We’re hostages to COVID right now.”
She sympathized with a parent who earlier addressed the board about the fact children don’t get to see the smiles on their teachers’ faces when they’re masked.
“It does make a difference,” she said. “I want those kids to be able to see the smiles and develop those relationships with their teachers.”
One reason for extending the mask mandate for the younger students was to give them the opportunity to get vaccinated.
The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 2, with board members Judy Hedrick and Rodrick Sparks voting against it.
Prior to the change in the mask mandates, Sparks introduced a motion to extend the mask mandate through Jan. 14. That motion, however, failed 4-3.
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 10:41 AM.
