Beginning Monday, Feb. 14, Bowling Green City Schools will no longer be requiring masks to be worn in schools.
Superintendent Francis Scruci sent out an email to families and staff Tuesday evening stating that the district will return to recommending that masks be worn – but not requiring them in school buildings.
Masks, however, will still be required on school buses until March 18, then the bus order will expire, Scruci said.
Earlier this school year, the Board of Education gave Scruci the authority to monitor and make decisions on masks and navigating the COVID virus within the schools. Scruci noted that he has worked closely with Wood County superintendents and the Wood County Health Department.
In addition, Scruci said he has monitored the number of active cases in the 43402 ZIP code area along with the number of cases in the school district.
Bowling Green City Schools began the school year in a mask optional environment and was able to control the numbers and spread in schools during the majority of the fall season, Scruci wrote.
At the end of October, the increase in cases led the district to change direction and Scruci instituted the mask mandate.
“We were able to navigate successfully the next several months but continued to see numbers in our primary ZIP code continue to climb,” Scruci wrote.
On Jan. 22, 2022, the Bowling Green area hit the highest point since the pandemic began, with 791 active cases being reported. Since that date, the Bowling Green area has seen a steady decline in numbers and today the total active cases had shrunk to 124.
Recently, the Ohio Department of Health removed the requirement to contact trace while still recommending mask wearing. In addition, ODH continues to encourage vaccinations, hand washing, coughing and sneezing in your elbow, and maintaining proper social distancing.
“As I am faced with yet another no win decision, I am going to follow the guidance from the health experts (ODH) and beginning Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, we will return to recommending but not requiring mask wearing in our schools,” Scruci said. “I want to again thank you for your flexibility, understanding, and grace as we continue to deal with this pandemic.”
