Masks will be mandatory in Memphis classrooms during the upcoming school year.
District officials will require all students, teachers, and school-based employees to wear face coverings, making Shelby County Schools one of the only school districts in Tennessee to maintain the strict COVID-19 protocol.
Memphis Superintendent Joris Ray made the announcement Tuesday evening during his report at the Shelby County Schools board meeting.
“These are some 2021 guidance that I know that many of our parents have been asking for,” he said. “We’re going to continue to wear masks until further notice.”
Ray added that the decision was driven by the latest guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommended masks for all unvaccinated students, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, which on Monday recommended masks for all students next school year.