Mathews Local School District will not require masks for upcoming school year

CORTLAND, Ohio - Mathews Local School District announced that the district will not be requiring students to wear masks for the upcoming school year and will be leaving the decision up to individual parents.
According to a letter sent to families in the district on Monday, masks will be optional in the classroom, but will be required on school transportation vehicles per a federal order by the CDC.
Mathews High School music teacher, David Ottney says he is pleased with the decision and he appreciates the state government for giving individual schools the choice.
"I think we're doing the right thing. I'm appreciative of our state government leaving it up to the individual school districts. And I think Trumbull County is doing the right thing where they're kind of leaving it up to the individual districts to make the right decision that they feel is best for their students and the community," Ottney said.
While masks are optional, students will be expected to continue to practice social distancing at all times, continue to monitor their health and stay home if they are feeling sick or any symptoms of COVID-19.
The school district will continue monitoring the pandemic and guidelines from the CDC and may update this policy at any time as needed.