No masks, for now, when school starts in Benson Aug. 30

By Reed Anfinson
Publisher
Swift County Monitor-News
When students return to school in Benson Monday, Aug. 30, they will not have to wear a face covering. At least for now, that is the policy in place.

At its meeting Aug. 3, the District 777 Board of Education went over its 2021-2022 Healthy Learning Plan. Schools are required to have a back-to-school plan that addresses the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Supt. Dennis Laumeyer said. The school board first saw the proposed plan in June.

“There really have not been many updates to this,” he said.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz no longer has emergency authority to dictate statewide plans, nor does the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) have the authority to make any requirements for school districts, Laumeyer said.

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) have issued guidance that those who are in school buildings wear a mask, he said. But there is no requirement in place and the Department of Education is not releasing a back-to-school learning plan of its own as it did last year...
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