Wearing masks will become optional for children at Dorothy Dodds Elementary, as well as the other three K-4 schools, starting Feb. 14. (Photo/Nancy Hanson)

The Moorhead School Board voted Monday to end the mask mandate in its K-12 schools after the first of the year.

By a vote of 5 to 2, the group approved a revision of the Safe Return to In-Person Learning Plan that has been in effect since the school year began at the end of August. All students, teachers and staff have been required to wear masks to mitigate the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

During the week ending Dec. 9, the district reported 47 positive cases among students and five among staff, an infection rate of 0.68% and 0.42% respectively. The district’s enrollment is nearly 7,300, with a staff of 1,400.

Masking will become optional on a staggered schedule from Jan. 3 to Feb. 14. At the same time, students who have been in close contact with infected individuals will no longer face mandatory quarantines. Instead, said district health supervisor Erica Yoney, a “robust testing protocol” will be employed to detect any further spread. A supply of rapid tests will be available on the campuses, she said, providing results in as little as 15 minutes. She also noted that vaccination is now available for children of 5 years and older, essentially the entire student body.

Elimination of close-contact quarantines begins with the resumption of classes for pre-kindergarteners and senior high school students, followed by middle-schoolers Jan. 17 and K-4 students Jan. 31.

The masks become voluntary at similar two-week intervals, starting again with pre-K children Jan. 3. Students at Moorhead High School can make their own decisions on masking starting Jan. 17. The policy changes at Horizon East and West Jan. 31. Finally, it will affect elementary classes at Asp, Hopkins, Dodds and Reinertson schools Feb. 14.

Superintendent Brandon Lunak emphasized Tuesday that the availability of Covid vaccines for all students 5 and older underlies the decision. The district, he said, “desires to maximize in-person instructional time for all students, while keeping staff and students safe.” If the virust seems to be making inroads back into the school population, he added, the board will have the option of changing the policy once again.