The Ringgold School Board met Wednesday night and on the agenda was a motion to amend their Health and Safety Plan. This follows last month’s vote by the board to require masks in the district because of rising numbers of Covid-19 in the district and in the community at large. The motion last month was a late addition to the agenda placed just before the meeting began. This month, the agenda advertised the proposed action and public comment was heated in support of bringing back the original mask optional plan. Wednesday’s motion to amend the plan read that wearing of masks would only be required if mandated. Before the vote was taken, Superintendent Randall Skrinjorich announced that the administration was in favor of keeping masks mandatory. Ultimately, the vote to make masks optional failed by a 4-5 vote. Skrinjorich indicated that the administration’s stance is that mask wearing is the best method to keep students and staff safe and keep the school buildings open. Directors and administration will develop criteria to use to roll back the mask mandate over the next month. A vote on that criteria is anticipated in the February board meeting.