SMSD board to consider rolling back COVID-19 policy that ties masking to absence rates

Shawnee Mission students

The Shawnee Mission Board of Education plans to revisit masking thresholds outlined in its COVID-19 mitigation plan. In recent days, seven elementary schools in the district have returned to universal masking because of elevated rates of student absences. Above, two Shawnee Mission elementary students wear masks. File photo.

The Shawnee Mission school board will revisit masking thresholds outlined in the district’s COVID-19 mitigation plan after a seventh school in the last week returned to universal masking because of elevated rates of student absences. 

The board’s discussion could lead to updated protocols and potentially an end to mask requirements that are currently triggered by student absence rates on a school-by-school basis.

Why now? Jamie Borgman, the SM Northwest-area board member, made a surprise motion at a meeting Monday to “remove mask mandates regardless of illness and overall absentee rate effective immediately.”