Staff and students will not be required to wear masks inside district schools or other facilities, on district property or on school buses for the 2021-2022 SY. However, the district still encourages the wearing of face coverings, especially for those who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
FSD3 will not mandate wearing a mask. Students and staff who want to continue to wear a mask can do so. Our goal is to provide a quality education in a safe environment.
This decision was made based on guidance from the State of South Carolina and the SC Department of Education.
Proviso 1.108. (SDE: Mask Mandate Prohibition) states: No school district, or any of its schools, may use any funds appropriated or authorized pursuant to this act to require that its students and/or employees wear a facemask at any of its education facilities. This prohibition extends to the announcement or enforcement of any such policy.
The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) interprets the above language to mean that school districts are prohibited from requiring students and employees to wear a facemask while in any of its educational facilities for the 2021-22 school year. Educational facilities include all property owned and operated by the individual district.