The Redwood Area School District is making some changes in its COVID policies, starting next Monday.

On Thursday, Superintendent of Schools Becky Cselovszki notified families that, due to an uptick in COVID cases and identified close contacts in the school and community, the Redwood Area School Board of Education has decided to implement the following mitigation efforts:

Starting Monday, Sept. 20, until Monday, Oct. 4, all 6th Grade students and staff will be required to wear masks indoors during the school day. Also, all identified close contacts district-wide will be required to quarantine.

Exceptions would be if the student can provide proof of full vaccination, or the student was properly wearing a mask that covers the mouth and nose completely during the time of close contact. These students would NOT be required to quarantine.

Quarantined close contacts will be able to return with a negative-COVID test 3-5 days after exposure. If a student chooses not to test, students would be required to quarantine for 10 days after exposure.

These mitigation efforts will continue to be evaluated. Efforts could be extended, increased, or removed depending on the current COVID situation. The school board continues to recommend all students and staff wear masks when in the school building. Masks continue to be required for all students and staff on all public transportation, including school vehicles.