The following is a message from Bellefontaine Superintendent Brad Hall regarding a mask mandate at Bellefontaine Middle School.

“Good evening. This message is specific to our middle school students and families, but I want the whole district to know.

“Yesterday, I was notified by the Logan County Health Department that masks are mandated, beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, September 1st, for our whole middle school. The mask mandate at our middle school is an alternative to closing the building and having students remain home. It is for that reason that I am choosing to comply. Again, the LCHD has mandated masks beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, September 1st, for our middle school only. To be more specific, the order from the health department reads:

Based on investigation of an infectious disease outbreak of the declared pandemic virus causing Covid-19 at Bellefontaine Middle School, pursuant to ORC 3707.04 and 3707.11, I hereby mandate that all those entering the school buildings or buses of Bellefontaine Middle School, including students, teachers, employees, and visitors must wear a mask until further notice.

“Please notice that the order states “until further notice” so we do not know an end date, but I do plan to reassess this frequently with the health department and will keep you informed along the way. To be clear, the choice facing the district is to either mask at the middle school or the Logan County Health Department is going to temporarily close the building and the middle school students would be at home.

“To prevent the same order from happening at our other buildings, I am strongly recommending that all students wear masks. We must keep our buildings open to provide our students with face-to-face instruction in the classroom setting. Please help us achieve that goal.

“Thank you and Go Chiefs.”