(Updated) – Members of the IKM-MANNING School Board, Friday afternoon during a special electronic session via Zoom, voted to require facial coverings, as part of the District’s revised Return to Learn Plan.

Beginning Monday, November 16th, face masks or approved neck gaiters are required for all staff, students, and permitted visitors in all IKM-Manning school buildings during the school day, in school vehicles including buses, and at all activities. This is a necessary step for us to take if we want to keep students in school. We wanted to have this meeting on Friday to allow families to plan for Monday. There will be masks available for those who do not have a mask.

IKM-MANNING Superintendent Trevor Miller said “These are not easy decisions and we know that not everyone will agree with this decision. In the end, this is about putting everything we can in place to allow students and staff to safely be in school. The school board will readdress the mandate on Thursday, January 21st school board meeting.

In making the decision, the Board noted the 14-day Positivity rate has continued to climb in the counties served by the District. Carroll County’s rate as of Friday afternoon was 27.3%, Shelby County 25.3%, Crawford 22.9 and Audubon was at 14.9%.