HANOVERTON, Ohio - Another school system in Columbiana County is using mandatory masking as a way to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The United Local School District has notified families that effective Monday, September 20, 2021, all staff and students in all buildings, preschool through 12 grade are required to wear face coverings.

As of September 16, 2021, the district has had 20 positive cases among staff and students. 140 students have been placed on quarantine due to close contact, adding up to over 1,200 days of lost in-person instruction.

The mask mandate is being implemented to continue in-person learning, according to district officials.

Administrators say they will re-evaluate every two weeks with input from the health department as well as examining district data. 

The district will be installing classroom air purification systems and continue extra cleaning of high-touch areas, according to the letter to parents.