School district modifies face covering mandate

(Editor’s Note: The following was submitted by Evangeline Parish Superintendent of Schools Darwan Lazard.)
As a result of Governor John Bel Edwards’ most recent Proclamation 203 JBE 2021 issued Tuesday, October 26, please note modifications related to face-covering mandate and quarantine procedures.
The latest proclamation by the governor provides the opportunity to lift the statewide face-covering mandate. It gives school districts the authority to make face coverings/masks optional while following quarantine guidelines from Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)/ Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The Evangeline Parish School District will exercise that authority, make face coverings/masks optional, and follow LDH/CDC quarantine guidelines starting Thursday, October 28. No student or personnel will be penalized for wearing or not wearing a mask/face covering.
The Evangeline Parish School District shall adhere to the following protocols effective Thursday, October 28:
• The use of cloth face coverings by students and employees is highly recommended, especially for those who are considered at-risk, but the decision as to their use is left to the discretion of the parent/legal guardian and employee.
• Per the current United States presidential proclamation, cloth face coverings shall continue to be worn on all school buses.
• LDH guidelines shall govern all quarantine decisions for students and employees (contact tracing, notification of close contacts of positive cases, mandated quarantine timeframes, etc.), and we will transition to those quarantine guidelines as outlined in the governor’s proclamation.
• All other COVID protocols shall remain in place.
The safety of our students, families, and staff remains a top priority to continue the moving forward with the education process.
Thanks for your continued support, cooperation, and understanding.