BAY MINETTE – Baldwin County public school students will not be required to wear masks when classes resume April 12 after spring break, Superintendent of Education Eddie Tyler said.
Students will be off Friday for Good Friday and will be on spring break the following week.
Masks have been required for students, teachers and anyone entering school buildings since classes resumed in August. Tyler said Thursday, April 1, the mask requirement will be dropped after Gov. Kay Ivey’s Safer at Home order expires on April 9.
“When we come back from spring break, masks will no longer be required in Baldwin County Public Schools,” Tyler said. “We will be following Governor Ivy's directives to accept more personal responsibility over government mandates. While we will not be requiring masks, masks will certainly be allowed to be worn by students and employees who choose to do so.”
He said masks have helped prevent the spread of diseases.
“We have seen no reported outbreaks of flu in our schools this year,” Tyler said. “We have seen no reported outbreaks of stomach viruses in our schools this year. The behavior of our students has been outstanding as reported from elementary through high school. While inconvenient at times, masks became a part of our daily lives.”
Tyler said that while masks will no longer be required, school employees will continue to work to sanitize classrooms and other facilities and maintain social distancing. Schools will also continue to encourage the use of hand sanitizers, keep campuses locked down to outside visitors and prohibit large indoor events.
The superintendent said schools are planning full-scale, regularly scheduled graduation ceremonies this spring. The events will be live-streamed for anyone who does not feel comfortable attending in person.
“We just had prom at our high schools. I have heard no reports of any significant problems,” Tyler said. “Award ceremonies and concerts will be allowed to resume in an outdoor fashion through the end of the school year for all grade levels.”
He said school officials expect the state athletic association will allow regularly scheduled and attended athletic events to continue through the remainder of the school year, without limitations. More information will be available from local school athletic directors or principals.
Tyler said Baldwin County schools have done well during the pandemic, staying open this year at times when many systems kept classrooms closed.
“When we return from break, we will have only six weeks left to complete what I think we can all agree has been a very long school year,” Tyler said. “I would also like to say I think it has been a very successful school year considering all the circumstances and lack of attendance for so many school systems around the country.”
He said the number of COVID-19 cases reported among students and teachers has been dropping. On Thursday, April 1, only one case was reported in the school system. Teachers and employees also recently completed their second round of vaccinations.
“Just a few weeks ago, we allowed the removal of masks during PE and outdoor activities and the reports back have been very positive,” Tyler said. “I do not know what the future will bring but I do know that whatever we have been through over the last year seems to have calmed down for now. The experts tell me the vaccinations are doing what they are supposed to do and of course, the governor's advisers have directed her that this next step appears to be a logical progression so we will be following her orders.”
