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COVID-19: Mask policies are changing at Southwest Ohio schools; here's an updated list

Madeline Mitchell
Cincinnati Enquirer
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Kindergartner Khloe Chotrow practices her coloring in Mrs. Haas' class at Three Rivers School Elementary in Cleves on Friday, September 4, 2020. Students wore masks to match their new backpacks. They waited at the door for their teacher to check their temperature.  They sat in desks divided by plastic partitions. Back to school looked different this year, but for these elementary students, it didn't feel different. They were happy to be back with their friends.

The majority of Cincinnati area school districts were keeping masks optional just a couple weeks ago. But as first-days-of-school approach, many school boards are switching to mandatory masks for all.

The question of whether or not to mask your kid is made easy in Kentucky: Gov. Andy Beshear announced a universal mask mandate for all schools earlier this month. Under the requirement, anyone inside a Kentucky school facility will be required to wear a face mask, regardless of their vaccination status against COVID-19.

The same is not true in Ohio, where mask policies differ by district – and sometimes by school, depending on what board of education members decide. A few districts in the area, including Mason City Schools and Forest Hills School District, are requiring masks for elementary students but not junior high or high schoolers.

More: Ohio isn't updating its school COVID-19 mask recommendations despite changes from CDC

Due to the growing presence of the delta variant of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month updated its masking guidance for K-12 schools, recommending universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students and visitors regardless of vaccination status. The agency cannot require schools to adopt universal mask mandates.

Local districts with universal mask mandates

The following Cincinnati area school districts will require universal indoor masking for all students, teachers and staff, regardless of vaccination status:

Local districts with partial mask mandates

Other districts are requiring masks for elementary students only. Here are local districts with partial mask mandates:

Local districts recommending masks

Other school districts are recommending masks for students and staff, but are not requiring masks.

In these cases, mask-wearing is optional:

Masks will be required on school buses due to federal regulations.

School leaders across the Tristate have emphasized the fluidity of current masking guidelines. Such policies may change throughout the school year depending on COVID-19 numbers and recommendations from federal, state and local health officials.

Cincinnati.com will update this story as more districts announce their mask policies for the 2021-2022 school year.

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