Mat-Su schools to require masks for grades 3-12 when school begins

When students return to Mat-Su Borough schools next month, most will be required to wear masks.

On Tuesday, incoming Superintendent Dr. Randy Trani announced that the district was implementing a requirement for face masks for students in third-grade through twelfth grade, as well as school staff.

The requirement is a change from earlier in the summer, when the school district stated that masks would be encouraged, but not required.  Dr. Trani says the shift in policy stems from multiple factors, including increased community spread of  COVID-19 and new state and federal guidelines.

Dr. Trani says that exceptions to the mask requirement will be made for students with some medical conditions, as well as in situations where masks would impede communication for hearing-impaired students.

Going forward, Dr. Trani says the situation is fluid, and that the district has a health advisory team in place composed of medical professionals, a liaison to the state Department of Health and Social Services, and district staff.