FSD3 to Require Masks Starting Sept. 7
Florence School District 3 will require all students, staff and visitors to wear face coverings in district facilities beginning Tuesday, September 7. The district will evaluate the situation weekly to determine how long the mandate will remain in place.
The district’s decision to require face masks was made based on the increasing numbers of students and staff testing positive for COVID-19 as well as those required to quarantine, in addition to SCDHEC and CDC guidelines.
According to district data, in August 150 students and staff tested positive for COVID-19, while 1,142 were quarantined due to exposure to the virus.
Masks also are required for student and adult school bus passengers. The SC Department of Education announced that it would begin enforcing the use of face coverings by students and staff on state owned and operated school buses starting August 30.
“The health and well-being of our students and staff are paramount,” said FSD3 Superintendent Dr. Laura Hickson. “It is important for us as a district to do everything we can to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 while continuing to educate our children,” she said. "I deeply apologize for the inconvenience this mandate may cause, but this mandate is for the greater good and is the right thing to do at this time."
FSD3 will not use state tax dollars to enforce the district-wide mask mandate.