New Masking Policy At Lancaster Schools

Masks are again optional in Lancaster Community Schools, for now. A divided Lancaster school board has approved a new masking policy that says the district will require masks at a school only after 2% of students and staff test positive for COVID-19 over a seven-day period. The policy was adopted in a 5-4 decision, with Board Members Adam Arians, Gina Rollins, Mike Steffel and Jerry Vesperman voting in opposition. The policy will utilize reported cases within school buildings only, not the community at large. A rolling seven-day count of active cases will continue to be posted daily on the district’s website. Masks will become mandatory at Winskill Elementary School after 11 cases are confirmed among its 538 staff and students, while a confirmation of 12 cases will trigger a masks mandate at Lancaster Middle and High School among its student and staff headcount of 589. The board intends to address the district’s quarantine policies at an upcoming meeting.