School Mask Mandate to End March 12

The Redlands Unified School District Board unanimously accepted updated state masking guidelines at their March 1 meeting.

Superintendent Mauricio Arellano read the updated California guidelines to the board at the end of the meeting, noting that individual districts could decide to extend masking requirements past March 11. The decision did not go to a vote, however, and involved only minimal discussion.

Each member of the board expressed relief. One said, "It's about time." Another said it would be nice to see students' smiles. Arellano, too, said he was happy for the end of masking. 

An email announcing the decision went out to families within minutes of the meeting's conclusion.

Beginning March 12, masks will no longer be required indoors in district settings regardless of vaccination status, though they will continue to be recommended. As of today, the district's Covid-19 dashboard reported 24 new cases within the last fourteen days, affecting 0.11% of the district.