MARS HILL, Maine — Starting Thursday, all students attending SAD 42 schools in Mars Hill will need to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status.
Superintendent Elaine Boulier announced Wednesday that all pre-K to grade 6 students at Fort Street Elementary School have to wear masks until at least Sept. 3, after which the mask mandate will be reevaluated. Masks already are mandatory at Central Aroostook High School.
The decision comes at a time when many schools in Aroostook County have either delayed their first day or sent students home to learn remotely due to positive cases. Others are changing their mask policies from optional to mandated in order to keep students learning in person.
Though there are no COVID-19 cases associated with Fort Street at this time, Boulier’s announcement comes days after two cases were identified at the high school. Students identified as close contacts are required to quarantine for 10 days.
Boulier cited the lack of vaccine approval for children below age 12 as a reason behind the school-wide mandate.
“Given that the elementary population is not eligible for vaccines, we are trying to be proactive and keep COVID out of our schools,” Boulier said, in a memo sent to the school community.
