Will all students and staff need to wear masks?

Cloth face coverings are required by all students and staff on all Jamestown Public School district buses and in all buildings.  

Do I need to wear a mask outside school buildings?

Masks are optional outside of school buildings EXCEPT when waiting in line for the morning COVID-19 screenings and temperature checks. Masks are required when in line.

Which students may be excused from wearing a mask?

Exemptions to the district masking protocol will only be granted to students or staff who have documented medical issues for which a face covering would cause an impairment.

What type of masks may be worn?

Wearing a face covering helps to slow the spread of COVID-19, which will help keep our school open. Cloth face coverings are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected with coronavirus and does not have symptoms. 

Will students and staff need to provide their own masks and what will happen if a student comes to school without a mask?

Face coverings will be provided to all staff and students. Extras will be available for students who forget to bring their own face coverings to school.

Will students need to wear masks the entire time they are in school?

Face coverings must be worn by students, staff, visitors and vendors when:

• likely to be less than 3 feet away from others
• at the bus stop and on the bus
• in hallways and common areas such as restrooms
• while waiting in line for the morning COVID-19 screening
  

Face coverings may be removed in the following situations, with appropriate social distancing measures in place:

• while eating or drinking during assigned lunch/snack periods
• during instruction as determined by a teacher or school administrator
• during “mask breaks” as directed by a teacher or school administrator

When and where will students be given mask breaks?

Students will be provided frequent mask breaks in areas where social distancing allows 3 feet or more from others such as in the classroom, outside, or in large spaces.

How will students be taught the correct procedure for wearing a mask and keeping it clean during a mask break?

Face covering “How Tos, “ as well as DOs and DON’Ts will be posted on the district website and posted in the classrooms. Handouts may also be provided for distribution to parents. 

What do I need to know about wearing a face covering?

Face coverings should NOT be used for:

• children younger than 2 years old
• students where such covering would impair their physical or mental health, or where wearing a face covering would present a challenge, distraction, or obstruction to education services and instruction
• anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, OR
• anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the face covering without assistance.

How To Wear a Face Covering

• Wash or sanitize your hands before putting on and after taking off a face covering.
• Face coverings should be clean, dry and in good condition.
• Disposable paper masks are intended for one-time use only and should be discarded at the end of use.
• Face coverings are for individual use and should not be shared with someone else.

Face Covering Dos and Don’ts

DO:

• Adjust your face covering so it fully covers your mouth and nose and allows for breathing without restrictions.
• Make sure your face covering rests on the bridge of your nose and extends to the bottom of your chin.
• Secure it with ties or ear loops so it fits snugly around your face without any gaps.
• Carefully remove your face covering by the ties or ear loops and without touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Wash cloth masks regularly with detergent and hot water.
• Throw disposable masks out at the end of the day after you arrive safely at home.

DON’T:

• Wear your face mask so it is below your nose.
• Push your face mask under your chin to rest on your neck.
• Wear a face covering that is so loose that it creates gaps at the sides of your face.
• Board the bus or enter the school without a face mask. 

What will happen if a student refuses to wear a mask?

Students who refuse to wear a mask when social distancing is not possible may be subject to disciplinary action.

Are face shields able to be used in place of face coverings?

A face shield is primarily used for eye protection for the person wearing it. At this time, there is not enough information on the effectiveness of a face shield. Therefore, CDC does not currently recommend use of face shields as a substitute for masks. But, there are cases in which a face covering cannot be worn, so reusable face shields are available in the schools.

What are the considerations for someone who wears a face shield instead of a face mask?

Face shield wearers should wash their hands before and after removing the face shield and avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth when removing it.

Reusable face shields should be cleaned and disinfected after each use according to manufacturer instructions or by following CDC recommendations:

1. While wearing gloves, carefully wipe the inside, followed by the outside of the face shield using a clean cloth saturated with a detergent solution or cleanser wipe.
2. Carefully wipe the outside of the face shield or goggles using a wipe or clean cloth saturated with disinfectant solution.
3. Wipe the outside of the face shield or goggles with clean water or alcohol to remove residue.
4. Fully air dry or use clean absorbent towels.
5. Remove gloves and perform hand hygiene.