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Mask Mandate Rescinded at BBHMS & Elementary Schools Effective Immediately

Thursday, October 28, 2021


Dear Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools Community, 

 At its regular meeting last night, the Board of Education decided in a 3-2 vote to rescind the mask mandate for grades 6th through 8th, and, with the new guidance from the Ohio Department of Health below, the district has also lifted the mask mandate at the elementary schools, all effective immediately. The details of that updated guidance, named Mask to Stay and Test to Play are outlined below and have been posted to our website. While the BBHCSD still strongly recommends everyone to wear a mask, the mandate for the elementary schools and the Middle School, once again, has been lifted effective immediately. Part of our success in keeping cases low during the first quarter of school has come from your flexibility, collaboration, and communication. Thank you for your patience with the district. 

Earlier this week, on Monday, October 25th, the Ohio Department of Health issued updated recommendations regarding quarantining and close contact in a school setting, and the district would like to share that information with you. Accordingly, please see below to learn more. 

 Mask To Stay

Direct contacts in a school environment, regardless of vaccination or masking status, may remain in the classroom environment if they:

  • Wear a mask for 14 days after their last date of exposure.
  • Self-monitor, or parent-monitor, for symptoms of COVID-19.
  • Isolate and get tested if they start to experience symptoms associated with COVID-19 (regardless of level of severity).
  • Consistent with guidance for others quarantining in lower-risk environments, students and staff may discontinue these quarantine procedures after seven days — if they meet two basic criteria: one – they don’t develop symptoms, and two – they test negative between days 5-7.

While parents and students are responsible for symptom monitoring, if school staff or school nurses see a child exhibiting symptoms they should act accordingly. 

Test to Play

Asymptomatic contacts in a school environment may continue to participate in extracurricular activities if they:

  • Wear a mask when able. This includes wearing a mask during transportation, such as traveling on a team bus to and from games; while in locker rooms; while sitting or standing on the sidelines; and any time the mask will not interfere with breathing, the activity in which they are participating, or create a safety hazard.
  • Test on initial notification of exposure to COVID-19.
  • Test again between days 5-7 following exposure to COVID-19. If they are negative at this time, they will test out of quarantine after day 7 and can resume normal activities.

School districts are also encouraged to consider same-day testing for athletic competitions where there is the potential of school-to-school exposure. Those who are fully vaccinated, as well as those who consistently wear masks in school, can already remain in the classroom if exposed to COVID-19 in a school setting. As always, you can learn more by visiting the COVID-19 Resources page on our district website and read the comprehensive nature of this guidance. Thank you for your continued support and flexibility with regard to these matters.