Trending
PHILIPPI -- Barbour County Schools will change its mask policy beginning Feb. 28.
Superintendent Jeff Woofter announced that the school system "will be making mask use optional on school buses, in schools, and at extracurricular activities."
In August, Woofter announced that the school system was requiring masks to be worn on school buses and indoors by all staff, students and visitors at all times except when eating.
"We are making the effective date Feb. 28 to give students and staff the opportunity to prepare for the change," Woofter posted on social media. "Those who wish to be vaccinated will have the opportunity to get one dose of the vaccine. Masks will continue to be provided for students and staff that choose to wear masks."
Woofter said the policy will prompt some procedure changes.
"Barbour County Schools will be implementing a Test-to-Stay program," Woofter's post reads. "Any student or staff member, who has not been vaccinated, that is exposed to a person with COVID, may remain in school with the following conditions:
"Unvaccinated students or staff must take a rapid COVID test on the date the student or staff has been identified as a close contact and again 5 days after exposure.
"After testing negative an individual may continue in-person learning if the student or staff remains asymptomatic and they continue the testing recommendation.
"A well fitted mask must be worn following an exposure to someone with COVID-19 through day 10 in the school.
"The test-to-stay strategy allows for youth to continue to participate in unmasked extracurricular activities (days 0-10).
"Testing will be available at school through Barbour Community Health at the schools or any health provider.
"We will be sending home a document asking for permission to test students who are exposed to COVID," the post states.
Woofter posted that "any student or staff that is unmasked, unvaccinated and choose not to get tested, must quarantine for 10 days after exposure. Those who are vaccinated and/or wearing a mask, will not be required to test if exposed but must stay home if they become symptomatic.
"We are working with our in-school health centers and healthcare workers to coordinate any needed testing."