Local schools aren't requiring masks to fight COVID – for now. Here's how that could change.
With COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases at worrying levels in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, one question many parents, students and teachers have regarding back-to-school is: do we need to mask up?
While answers vary in nuance from district to district, the general consensus is no, masks are not required in local public schools, though they are encouraged. Masks are optional on school buses, too.
Masks aren't being required even though many districts linked their policies to the CDC's COVID-19 heat maps, noting that masks would reemerge if and when counties entered high-risk levels. As of Wednesday, Ohio's Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties were considered high risk and Kentucky's Boone, Grant and Kenton counties were considered high risk for COVID-19. Kentucky's Campbell County was in the medium risk zone.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains masking correctly is effective at reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19 and recommends schools implement universal indoor mask policies when communities are at high-risk levels.
While none of the local school districts in Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky are requiring masks to start, students may need to mask up if exposed to the virus at any point during the school year. Ohio's "mask to stay, test to play" system, though not all districts are opting to use it this year, is still the gold standard for districts in the area:
Direct contacts, regardless of vaccination or masking status, may remain the classroom if they mask up for 10 days after exposure. Monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and isolate and get tested if symptoms appear. Testing for COVID-19 five days after exposure is recommended.
Asymptomatic contacts may continue to participate in extracurricular activities if they wear a mask when able and test for COVID-19 twice: on the initial notification of exposure and on the fifth day after exposure.
Anyone who tests positive for the virus must isolate for at least five days. If asymptomatic on the sixth day, return to school while wearing a mask for the next five days. If symptoms persist after five days, stay home until fever-free.
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Kentucky's most recent school guidance follows a similar system for students exposed to or testing positive for the virus. Both Ohio and Kentucky guidelines are based on CDC recommendations for schools, which also encourage anyone feeling sick to stay home and everyone to get vaccinated, practice good hygiene and wash hands frequently.
The Enquirer compiled the following list of mask policies for public school districts in Ohio's Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties and Kentucky's Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton counties ahead of the upcoming school year.
Mask requirements for Ohio districts
Butler County
Fairfield City Schools will not require masks for students or staff, community relations director Gina Gentry-Fletcher said. The "mask to stay" system is still an option for students and staff exposed to COVID-19, though, according to the district's website. If kids are exposed to the virus at school, regardless of vaccination or masking status, they can remain in the classroom if they wear a mask for 10 days after being exposed.
Lakota Local Schools will not require masks but "will certainly support our students and staff who may choose to wear one this year," community relations director Betsy Fuller said.
Madison City Schools has no mask mandate for the start of school, superintendent Jeff Staggs said.
Middletown City Schools will continue with optional masking this school year, according to the district's website.
New Miami School District has an optional mask policy this school year, superintendent Rhonda Parker said.
Ross School District has an optional mask policy, superintendent Chad Konkle said.
Talawanda School District spokesperson Holli Morrish confirmed masks are optional this school year.
Clermont County
Batavia Local School District superintendent Keith Millard said masks are optional this school year "and there are no plans to implement a mask mandate."
Clermont Northeastern Schools will not require masks this school year, superintendent Michael Brandt.
Felicity-Franklin Schools will keep its mask optional policy for the new school year, superintendent Dave Gibson said.
Goshen Local Schools will keep masks optional this school year, superintendent Darrell Edwards said.
Milford Exempted Village Schools does not have a mask requirement for students or staff, communications director Krista Boyle said. "There is not currently an expectation that this would change but of course, with COVID, anything is possible," Boyle wrote in an email to The Enquirer.
New Richmond City Schools will continue with optional masking this school year and "will continue monitoring," public relations coordinator Sheila Vilvens said.
Williamsburg Local Schools superintendent Matt Earley confirmed masks are optional.
Hamilton County
Cincinnati Public Schools has an optional but recommended mask policy going into the new school year, according to the district's website. Students and staff who test positive, but are allowed to return to school after five days, must continue to wear a mask for 10 days following a positive test.
Administrators may inform the board of high community spread and a recommendation to wear masks indoors at any time, though mask mandates are ultimately up to a school board vote.
Deer Park City Schools is keeping its mask optional policy this school year, superintendent Jay Phillips said.
Finneytown Local Schools is currently not requiring masks, superintendent Laurie Banks said.
Forest Hills School District has a mask optional policy, communications coordinator Josh Bazan said.
Indian Hill Exempted Village School District will not require masks this school year.
"At this point, we plan to remain a mask-friendly campus during this school year," chief communications officer Heather Higdon wrote in an email to The Enquirer.
Administrators are in charge of mask mandate and remote learning decisions at Indian Hill, according to district policy. Those grade level decisions are based on a combination of factors including staff absences, student absences, number of COVID-19 cases, number of quarantine cases and local, state and federal health orders.
Lockland Local Schools will start the school year with optional masking, superintendent Bob Longworth said.
"Lockland Schools will make future determinations about masking if and when needed, based on any applicable mandates at that time," Longworth wrote in an email to The Enquirer.
Loveland City Schools is currently operating under a mask optional policy, superintendent Mike Broadwater said.
Madeira City Schools has an optional mask policy, superintendent Kenji Matsudo said.
Mariemont City Schools has an optional mask policy, spokesperson Alex Lange said.
Mount Healthy Local School District will have a mask optional policy this school year, superintendent Valerie Hawkins said.
North College Hill City Schools will keep masking optional to start the school year, superintendent Eugene Blalock said, and will revisit after the school year begins.
Northwest Local Schools will keep its mask optional policy for students and staff this school year. Spokesperson Lyndsey Creecy said the district will continue to monitor COVID-19 trends in the community and the optional policy is subject to review based on the needs of the district.
Norwood City School District will continue its mask optional protocol for staff and students this school year, superintendent Mary Ronan said. "If the situation were to change after the start of the school year, we would follow the guidance of the Norwood Health Department, The Hamilton County Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Health," Ronan wrote in an email to The Enquirer.
Oak Hills Local School District has a mask optional policy this school year, superintendent Jeff Brandt said.
"As in the past, we will monitor cases and make individual building decisions should the need arise," Brandt wrote in an email to The Enquirer.
Princeton City Schools has a mask optional policy, director of communications Tricia Roddy confirmed.
Reading Community City Schools will continue with a mask optional policy this school year, superintendent Damon Davis said.
Southwest Local School District will start the school year as it ended last year, with masks optional, superintendent John Hamstra said.
St. Bernard - Elmwood Place Local Schools will not require masks for students, staff or visitors at the beginning of the school year, superintendent Mimi Webb said. Masks will be provided for those who wish to wear them. "We could change depending on the advice of the Hamilton County Board of Health, CDC, or advice from ODH," Webb wrote in an email to The Enquirer.
Sycamore Community School District is currently in a mask optional environment. The district will continue to review school attendance data to make future decisions.
Winton Woods City Schools will keep masks optional for all students and staff regardless of vaccination status "unless additional guidance is shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," superintendent Anthony Smith said.
Wyoming City Schools is strongly recommending students and staff mask up this school year due to the high community risk level in Hamilton County, but masks are not required. Spokesperson Suzy Henke said people exposed to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask, and individuals with symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test should stay home.
Warren County
Carlisle Local Schools does not have a written mask policy and have been mask optional since the start of the 2021-22 school year, superintendent David Vail said. "I would anticipate that will be the case when we start school next week, unless otherwise notified by the local or state health departments," Vail wrote in an email to The Enquirer.
Franklin City Schools is not requiring masks for staff or students at the beginning of the school year, communications consultant Peggy Darragh-Jeromos said. The superintendents in Warren County meet regularly with the Warren County Health Department to develop and refine COVID-19 regulations, she said. "We hope that the worst is behind us and that masks will not need to be mandated, but we will follow the guidelines of the CDC and the Warren County Health Department," Darragh-Jeromos said.
Kings Local School District will not be imposing a mask mandate, communications coordinator Dawn Gould said.
"At this time there is no discussion on bringing one back. If the conditions worsen and a proposal is made, the Board of Education will make the final decision by vote," Gould wrote in an email to The Enquirer.
Lebanon City Schools is not requiring masks at this time, communications coordinator Wendy Planicka said.
Little Miami Local Schools superintendent Greg Power said there is no mask policy for the district and Little Miami "does not intend to implement a mask policy."
Mason City Schools will "welcome masks but will not require them," public information officer Tracey Carson said. "As we’ve learned to live with COVID-19, it is important that individuals take personal responsibility for monitoring their health and the health of their family," Carson wrote in an email to The Enquirer. "Individuals with confirmed cases of COVID-19 should remain out of school for 5 days and may return on day 6 if symptoms have improved."
Springboro Community Schools will not require masks for the start of the school year, though they are strongly recommended, district communications coordinator Scott Marshall said. He does not anticipate these guidelines to change but the district will continue to work with the Warren County and Ohio health departments. "Currently, we are under no health department mandates to contact trace, quarantine, mask, or test at school," Marshall wrote in an email to The Enquirer. "We are in a much better place due to vaccinations, boosters, and anti-viral treatments being available for quite some time. Vaccinations and boosters continue to be the best line of defense against COVID-19."
Wayne Local Schools is not requiring masks this school year, according to superintendent Patrick Dubbs.
Kentucky districts
Boone County
Boone County Schools is not requiring anyone to mask up this school year. "Our decision is based on the therapies and vaccines that are now widely available to treat COVID and the established protocols to avoid spread, if you are sick," community relations coordinator Barbara Cain-Brady wrote in an email to The Enquirer. "As for the possibility that things could change, given that we cannot predict the future we are taking these matters one day at a time."
Walton-Verona Independent Schools is mask-optional, superintendent Matt Baker said.
Campbell County
Campbell County Schools recommends all students and staff wear a mask, but does not require masks. "Masking requirements are subject to change based on COVID trend data and recommendations from theKentucky Department for Public Health in order to prevent the transmission of illness/ disease," a July message to parents reads.
Fort Thomas Independent Schools are not presently requiring the use of masks for students, staff or families, superintendent Brian Robinson said.
Grant County
Grant County Schools will not require masks this school year but encourages them.
Williamstown Independent Schools will keep its mask optional policy this school year.
Kenton County
Covington Independent Schools has an optional mask policy, superintendent Alvin Garrison said.
Erlanger-Elsmere Schools are not requiring masks this school year but all are welcome to use masks, according to the district's safe return notice.
Kenton County Schools are leaving the choice to mask up to individual students and families, according to a July 26 notice. Students or staff who test positive for COVID-19 must isolate at home for 10 days but can return to the classroom after five days without symptoms, as long as they wear a mask for the remaining five days.
Ludlow Independent Schools is keeping masks optional this school year, superintendent Mike Borchers said.
Edgewood City Schools, Hamilton City Schools, Monroe City Schools, Bethel-Tate Local Schools, West Clermont Schools, Three Rivers Local Schools, Bellevue Independent Schools, Dayton Independent Schools, Newport Independent Schools and Beechwood Independent Schools did not respond to The Enquirer's request about masking for the 2022-23 school year.
Cincinnati.com will update this list.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky schools not requiring masks, yet
