Osseo Area Schools to Require Masks Indoors in 4-2 Vote
Masks Will Be Required in Osseo Schools
Osseo Area Schools have joined the growing list of districts to implement a mask mandate for the upcoming school year.
“I cannot, in good conscience, take the risk of being in a place three months from now, experiencing high case rates in our district, wishing we would have put a mask requirement in, knowing that we could have done something to help mitigate that situation,” said Cory McIntyre, superintendent of Osseo Area Schools. “I believe that implementing this mask requirement provides us the best chance to continue and stay consistent with in-person learning and minimize the number of students who might miss school due to illness.”
During a special meeting Friday morning, the school board voted 4-2 to implement the mask mandate.
Starting Sept. 8, students, teachers, staff members and visitors to Osseo Area Schools will be required to wear masks in all district buildings, regardless of whether they’ve received the COVID-19 vaccination.
The requirement would be in place until the end of the first trimester on Dec. 6
District officials cite the growing case numbers in Hennepin County related to the delta variant as the reason for the enhanced precautions.
However, some board members criticized the decision and called it a “massive overreach.”
“Our kids are experiencing a profound loss of freedom, and most of our families have indicated that they will leave our district if we make this a mandated requirement,” said Heather Douglass, a member of the Osseo School Board. “Our school district has already lost a significant portion of students due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the choices we’ve made as a board.”
Board Member Heather Douglass cast one of the votes against the mask mandate.
District officials say there will be exemptions made for certain people. The full resolution is available for people to read on the district’s website.
