Dalton Public Schools has announced it will change its COVID-19 policies in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and its highly contagious delta variant.
During a special meeting early Wednesday morning, the board of education voted 5-0 to approve a resolution adapting its COVID-19 policies.
In doing so, it established a tiered system for planning its COVID response, moving immediately into the tier for moderate risk. That phase makes masks mandatory for students in prekindergarten through seventh grade – students who are not yet old enough to receive COVID-19 vaccinations.
Students in higher grade levels will not be required to mask, although they will be strongly encouraged to do so.
Masks will be mandated for all students on school buses, where social distancing is difficult due to space constraints.