California Area School District amended optional mask wearing to their Return to School Plan at Wednesday evening’s Board of Directors meeting. The decision follows feedback from the board’s July “Universal Masking” survey, sent through their online student information system. 238 district parents responded, with a 73.9% majority preferring non-mandated masking. The survey results, which were finalized last week, were reviewed by Superintendent Dr. Laura B. Jacob at the meeting. The Board motioned to amend optional masking afterwards, however Jacob says other COVID-19 policies will take place. “We’ve a 50 page health and safety Return to School Plan, so there’s a very significant amount of items that we’ve listed that we’re doing as far as mitigation for COVID-19,” says Jacob. Although students may choose to wear masks in schools, mask wearing is mandatory on all buses. Vaccinations are not mandatory for staff members, however Jacob says they will have to wear masks regardless. Still, Jacob says staff worked “tremendously well” last year and that she’s “looking forward to a more positive school year here”. The first school day for California Area School District is on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021.