TCTC, Brookfield putting on masks

Come as schools see large number of students in quarantine

After starting the school year with mask-optional guidelines, two school districts have decided to make mask wearing mandatory for students and staff.

Brookfield Local Schools will mandate mask wearing starting Monday. The Trumbull Career and Technical Center already mandated mask wearing Tuesday.

TCTC Superintendent Jason Gray said at Thursday's meeting the decision was made for a mask mandate as the school was approaching nearly 70 students being quarantined for close contact.

"This week because we are all masked we did not have to quarantine any. The universal mask wearing works for us," Gray said.

He said it is important with the hands-on labs at the career center that students be in school.

"Our goal is to keep the students in school in person five days a week. It is very difficult to replicate a cosmetology lab or any career tech education in someone's living room," he said.

Gray said he believes nine local schools are mandating masks, including Champion, Lakeview and Niles.

"Many schools tried at the beginning of the year to make masks optional," Gray said, indicating two nurses contract trace after school.

Brookfield school officials also announced Thursday due to a rising number of COVID-19 cases and quarantines within the school population, the district will be requiring all students, staff and visitors to wear masks while in district buildings, regardless of vaccination status.

Masks still are required to be worn on school transportation.

"Based on the current recommendations from the Ohio Department of Health, universal masking, along with other mitigation practices such as social distancing, hand washing, and sanitizing, provide our students with the best chance at being in school all day, everyday, five days a week," Brookfield Superintendent Toby Gibson said.

He said officials will evaluate the case count within the district and the community on a regular basis, and revise policies when and as necessary.

Also due to the quarantines within the school population, the varsity football game today and the JV football game on Saturday, both against Liberty, have been canceled.

Board member Ronda Bonekovic said at the TCTC meeting she believes at least five students in Brookfield are out due to testing positive for COVID-19.