BOARDMAN, Ohio - Boardman Local Schools will be requiring masks for all students, faculty and visitors in the building.

The mask policy has been updated for the first day of classes, Monday, August 30. Masks will not be required outside the school. 

Boardman upgraded their mask policy to help prevent the spread of infection and to ensure that the students are able to continue in person.

"We have learned a lot from COVID and its impact on education over the last 18 months. Our parents have expressed, quite clearly, that they want in-person learning 5-days a week and at regular school times," said Superintendent Tim Saxton.

Gov. Mike DeWine has left mask mandate decisions up to the schools, but urges school officials to mandate masks inside as Delta cases continue to grow throughout Ohio. 

"With the release of quarantine guidelines, the only way to greatly reduce students being home for 10 days on quarantine is to have students masked or vaccinated. With under-12 not eligible for a vaccine and only about 40% of students 12-and-over vaccinated, masks are the best defense against a student being sent home and losing valuable in-person instruction," said Saxton.

Boardman School District will evaluate the policy for the first 20 days of school, and will revisit the decision towards the end of September.