Masking Q & A

Masks are optional for all teachers and staff. Masks are strongly recommended for those who have had a known exposure to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. 

Lunchroom protocols will continue.

The Edina Virtual Pathway (EVP) is open to any Minnesota resident student. Please contact virtualpathway@edinaschools.org to contact the EVP team or visit the Edina Virtual Pathway webpage for more information about EVP registration and enrollment.

We will allow for more volunteers in classrooms and lunchrooms at the discretion of building administration and teachers. Volunteers are included in the masking optional protocol. For the safety of students and staff, we strongly encourage any volunteer who has had a known COVID exposure to wear a mask and test before coming to school.

It is important for families to have a conversation with their students so there is an understanding of the expectation. At the elementary level, families can let their teacher know of their desire for their student to continue to mask, and teachers will do their best to support that family. But ultimately, students will be responsible for wearing a mask if desired. At the secondary level, it is not possible for teachers to keep track of this, making the family conversation most important. Know that staff will do their best to remind students, but the focus at school will be on creating a supportive and accepting culture so that all students feel comfortable with their masking choices.

We’ve learned throughout the pandemic that COVID conditions change and new variants develop. What will not change is the goal we set at the beginning of the school year - to keep students safe and learning in-person, with as little interruption as possible. We will adapt mitigation strategies, including masking, as needed in response to changes in COVID conditions in order to keep students in their classrooms.

Masks are strongly recommended for those who have had a known exposure to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. The Edina Health Services department will also monitor the CDC COVID-19 Community Level and make additional masking recommendations consistent with the CDC’s guidelines.

Since implementing the CDC shortened isolation protocol in January, we have successfully partnered with families to reinforce the need for masking with a well-fitting face covering. We will continue with this partnership to ensure student safety.