ROGERS, Ark. — The Rogers School Board met Thursday, Aug. 12, to discuss whether it will require masks in schools this year with COVID-19 cases surging again in Arkansas.
The Rogers School District will require masks for students, staff, faculty and visitors for the upcoming school year. The mandate will last in Rogers Public Schools for 30 days and passed with a vote of 4 to 3.
Last week, an Arkansas judge temporarily blocked the state from enforcing a law that prevents schools and other governmental agencies from requiring masks. Health leaders have applauded the decision as more children and young adults have been hospitalized due to the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant.
School districts across Arkansas have been discussing mask mandates for the last two weeks. Springdale, Fort Smith, Fayetteville, and Bentonville School Districts have all voted in favor of masks for students.
“Well, I think it could be exactly like you said, that it’s representative of our community and our board of education members are elected to represent the community," said a board member. "That’s where they ended up tonight was a 4,3 vote again you can tell they have a lot of passion for our kids and safety and for our staff members but it came down to how they were going to represent those people that contacted them. ”
For more information about the Rogers School District or its COVID-19 policies, please visit their website.