Muscatine School Board to meet Friday morning on updating mask mandate

Muscatine High School. Photo by Jim Elias

The Muscatine Board of Education has scheduled a meeting Friday morning to discuss and possibly vote on potential changes to mask requirements in the Muscatine Community Schools District.

This follows a federal judge’s temporary restraining order issued Monday against an Iowa law that banned school districts from implementing mask mandates in schools due to COVID-19.

The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. in the Muskie Room at the MCSD Admin Center, 2900 Mulberry Avenue.

“It was important for our district to schedule this special session as soon as possible so that regardless of the outcome we are able to give our families and staff enough time to prepare for any potential changes,” said MCSD Superintendent Clint Christopher in a letter sent Wednesday.

The public is invited to submit comments that will be placed in the official record via an online portal.

For those interested in attending, the Citizen Speak period will last only 30 minutes with a maximum of two minutes per person.

“Our ultimate goal is to provide a safe learning environment for all students and a safe workplace for all staff members while also working to communicate as transparently as possible with you as we continue to navigate this pandemic,” Christopher said.