POLAND, Ohio - Poland Local Schools announced on Wednesday that the district will be updating its mask policy. All students and faculty will be required to wear a mask.

Originally, masks were only mandated for students grades K-6 but were optional for grades 7-12 due to the availability of vaccines for those age 12 and over.

However, the number of students in grades 7-12 in quarantine has doubled, and there are now 100 students in quarantine at the Junior/Senior High School compared to no one in quarantine from grades K-6.

This prompted the district to expand the mask mandate to include grades 7-12 as well, effective Thursday, Sept. 9.

Superintendent Craig Hockenberry says he knows this decision will upset some parents, but perfectly healthy students are being sent home to quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19 in the classroom without wearing a mask.