BOONE COUNTY, Ky. — Schools across the Commonwealth are gearing up as the date to resume in-person classes inches closer.

Boone County schools along with other districts are using this time to make preparations to layout mask-wearing guidance. 

In three weeks, public schools will welcome students back into classrooms for the first time since March, in the meantime remote or virtual learning is taking place. 

“It’s been suggested that we practice wearing masks. One thing that I know that some parents are doing is to give their children 30 minutes on their iPad but they can only have it if they wear a mask,” said Kathy Reutman, the executive director of student services for Boone County schools. 

Reutman said students and staff will have to accept wearing masks as they plan on returning to school.

“I think that will be one of the adjustments that they’ll have to make. I think we have a lot of adjustments to school. But when referring to masks, it’s hard to wear a mask for anyone all day long,” Reutman said.

In fact, in August, the CDC released guidance for administrators to put in place for wearing masks should any bullying occur. The CDC said stigma, discrimination, or bullying may arise due to wearing or not wearing a mask. schools should have a plan to prevent and address harmful or inappropriate behavior.

Reutman said they have redirection and positive strategies in place to educate and deescalate a situation. 

“We have positive behavior interventions and support (PBIS) structures in our building and through those PBIS teams, we’re going to be working on expectations for masks and how to encourage, especially, our students but our adults also,” Reutman said.

Along the way, school administrators are using this time to be current on evolving mask guidelines, the most recent from the Kentucky Department of Education. 

“Up until just August the 31, we had guidance that you could, if you were social distanced in the classroom and if nobody was moving around, we could remove our masks, but the new guidance came down and says you wear a mask all the time during the school day that is adults and children so that’s a big change,” Reutman said.

She said they are working on creating solutions to find ways for students to eat in cafeterias, moving from classrooms and on playgrounds all while maintaining distance and wearing masks.

In-person classes resume on September 28.