MSD drops mask requirement

MULLAN — The Mullan School District Board of Trustees made the decision earlier this week to drop its district-wide mask mandate.

Prior to the beginning of the school year, the MSD Board adopted a four-tier reopening plan complete with required facial covering for all students and staff.

Due to their lower enrollment numbers, they have been able to maintain full-time school for the 2020/21 school year, but as the number of positive COVID-19 cases has declined and with the rollout of the vaccination, the board decided to change their current rules from masked being required to them being a simple recommendation.

Shoshone County’s easternmost school district is the first of the three local districts to fully alter their reopening plans concerning masks and their decision is coming just a few weeks after the Wallace School District made adjustments to their facial covering rules for Silver Hills Elementary School, while electing to keep their more strict rules at Wallace Jr./Sr. High School.

The Kellogg School District and their mask rules fall into line with the city of Kellogg’s mask ordinance, which requires them to be worn inside all of the facilities.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that masks won’t be seen at Mullan’s school events and inside the buildings, the school board decided that they would allow teachers to govern their classrooms to their comfortability.

“Teachers do have the right to require them in their classrooms if they feel they want to,” said Mullan High School Principal Don Kotschevar.

The change also extends to guests of the Mullan School District, including parents, community members, visiting teams and their spectators.

In the days since the decision was made, spirits seem to be high in the Mullan School District — not just because they aren’t being forced to wear masks, but because the decision feels like a return to our pre-COVID world.

“The students are seemingly happy about it, which I’m not surprised by,” said Mullan teacher and athletic director Stetson Spooner. “It was a very civil decision that doesn't seem to impede anyone in the district’s safety. I appreciate the collective decision made by the board to move forward toward normalcy.”