New mask guidelines at Perry Community Schools take effect Monday.

Earlier this month the Perry School Board decided to update its mask policy following new guidance from Governor Kim Reynolds that restructures quarantine procedures if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19. Beginning Monday, students and staff will wear masks when social distance can not be maintained. The Board defines social distance as being at least six-feet apart for 15 continuous minutes. With this new policy, the District is confident that fewer students will be forced to quarantine.

This topic has received a lot of public input over the last couple of weeks. Superintendent Clark Wicks tells Raccoon Valley Radio that he’s thankful to hear from so many different voices, “It demonstrates people have some passion for Perry Schools, that’s first. The other thing that I think was really neat to see was the way that everybody expressed their thoughts. It was organized, they were civil, they appreciated what the Board does, and the Board was appreciative of their comments.”

The next COVID-19 topic the Board wants to address is extending the school day back to regular dismissal. Several Board members have expressed they hope to vote on the matter during the November meeting to take effect after winter break.