From The Tribune staff reports
HOMEWOOD — The Homewood City School system announced it will require masking inside school buildings at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.
The decision came after guidance from the Alabama Department of Health (ADPH). In a letter to parents, Superintendent Dr. Justin Hefner said as things change rapidly, the school system is making decisions to keep kids in the classroom.
“According to ADPH’s toolkit, if students are wearing facial coverings in the classroom and are distanced by three feet or more, asymptomatic students do not have to quarantine if they are exposed to Covid-19,” Hefner said. “If last year taught us anything, we know how important in-person instruction is for our students.”
Facial coverings will be required inside school buildings.
“We understand that the debate regarding facial coverings is very divisive,” Hefner continued. “Last year, our health leaders mandated facial coverings state-wide to ensure the safety of all of our families, not just in schools but throughout Alabama. Although a similar mandate is not currently in place, the strong recommendation from our state health leaders along with our rising Covid-19 cases in Alabama shows that we all must work together to do our best to keep our faculty, staff, and students in school.”
You can read the full Homewood City Schools COVID-19 policy by clicking here.