Shelbyville schools will continue with a mask mandate into the next calendar year when school resumes after Christmas break.

The school board approved a February 2 target date at its meeting Wednesday.

Superintendent Mary Harper says a sizable percentage of teachers support going back to optional masks.  But concerns about contact tracing without masks taking more and more kids out of school drove the board to its vote Wednesday.

Harper says evidence of past holiday experience coupled with the Christmas break was a factor.

Many have complained over what they feel is a contradiction in how Shelbyville Central deals with Covid when going mask – optional during extracurricular and athletic events.  Harper says enforcing the mandate at those was extremely difficult.

The February 2 date still allows for the board to discuss the issue again, if needed, at its January meeting.