Cobb Schools To Announce Updated COVID-19 Protocols In A Few Days

MARIETTA, GA — Cobb County school officials will prepare to announce their updated coronavirus guidelines heading into the new academic year, but students will continue to have the option of whether they wear masks in the classroom, officials said last Thursday.

Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced at a board work session that masks for students and staff will remain optional moving forward. The announcement, which the district originally made in June, comes at a time when other school districts in surrounding area — including in DeKalb and Clayton counties — have said students and staff will be required to wear face-coverings.

Ragsdale said at Thursday’s work session he has been in contact with administrators in other local districts. He said Cobb County schools will announce COVID-19 related guidelines in the next few days and by the middle of this week by the latest. The school year is slated to begin on Aug. 2.

Ragsdale said the use of masks on district school buses will be included in the upcoming announcement about health guidelines.

“Obviously (the pandemic) has been the center focus point of everything we have done for over the past year,” Ragsdale said Thursday. “I know many are anxious to hear updates on protocols and those types of things.”

He added: “There’s a lot of gray areas….to make sure we’re on the same level playing field if you will.”

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention announced last week it is safe for fully vaccinated individuals to not wear masks in school buildings. The area districts who are requiring masks are doing so regardless of vaccination status.

Vaccines have not yet been approved for students under the age of 12.

Fulton County Schools announced earlier this summer masks would be strongly encouraged but not required.