​​COLUMBUS, Ohio — Columbus City Schools officials are considering whether to change the district’s mask mandate following last week’s change in federal mask guidance, Superintendent Talisa Dixon said Tuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Columbus City Schools is considering its mask decision

  • The CDC relaxed its COVID-19 mask guidance Friday

  • Superintendent Dixon discussed the matter on Tuesday

“I just want to remind our staff and our families this is a large organization, so it's not as easy as saying we're going to move in a different direction the next day. It takes a lot of coordination and conversations with many stakeholders before we make our decision,” Dixon said during a Columbus City Schools Board of Education meeting.

Dixon said officials will meet with union representatives for district staff on Wednesday to further discuss the decision on masks.

 

“Any updates to our policies or procedures will be communicated to our families and our stakeholders as soon as we get all of those decisions made. So to our families, please stay tuned, we hope to make that decision soon,” Dixon said.

The superintendent’s comments come after Columbus Public Health announced Monday that it is recommending the citywide mask mandate be lifted on March 7.

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance on masking, which no longer recommends masks be required at the COVID-19 levels that Franklin County is reporting.

Dixon noted that the CDC also ended the federal mask mandate for school buses on Friday.

Columbus City Schools officials are consulting with representatives of Columbus Public Health and Nationwide Children’s Hospital as they make their decision.

Columbus Health Commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts briefly discussed her thoughts on the district’s decision during a Columbus City Council meeting on Monday, stating, "I think there's science that can justify either decision they make."

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