Students Return to Classes with Option to Mask

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – Detroit Lakes Public Schools will not require masks as the new school year begins today.

The District, following Minnesota Department of Health guidelines will recommend masks, but is leaving the final decision, for now to parents. “We’ve heard from a lot of families that parents want to make the choice and so we’re going to honor that,” said Detroit Lakes Superintendent Mark Jenson.

Masks, however will be required on buses due to a Federal mask mandate on public transportation. Schools throughout Minnesota are divided on masking in schools, Fridley public Schools for instance plans to require every person in their buildings to wear a mask. Some district leaders throughout the state have had to ask law enforcement for help maintaining the peace when masking policies have been discussed at school board meetings.

Jenson says the goal this year is to keep students in the classrooms and procedures may need to be changed depending on the evolving situation.