The board voted unanimously to keep masking mandatory, and to allow Superintendent Michael Cardona the discretion to prolong masking after spring break should he determine it necessary.
On Aug. 12, the board voted to implement a mask mandate, but was set to revisit it in January, as previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper.
“[If] the superintendent believes that masks are still necessary when students and teachers return from spring break, then he would have the authority to continue to implement it until which time the board meets and can reconsider whether or not we need to continue or we can start lifting [the mandate],” said board member Anne Halsey. “God willing, there's a miracle we can start with lifting restrictions, right? If that is the case, I think we should have the opportunity to do so.”
By the numbers, SMCISD reported about 40 new student and staff cases per day between Jan.10-14, with the exception of Jan. 11 when 80 new cases were reported—30 of which were at San Marcos High School alone.
So far this week the district reported 78 new student and staff cases on Jan. 18.
