(KAIR)--Face masks will no longer be required to be worn in the Atchison Public Schools.

That follows action of the Board of Education for USD 409 this week, changing the school district’s coronavirus remediation plan from “requiring” the wearing of face masks to “strongly encouraging” that they be worn.

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Renee Nugent, told MSC News the change goes into effect Thursday.

Other related changes were also approved for the school district’s Safe Return to School and Continuity of Services Plan on a unanimous vote of the Board of Education during Monday evening’s meeting of the school board.

The changes include resuming contact tracing for school exposures, offering the option of Test to Stay for identified school related close contacts, a five day isolation period for those who test positive, and that a positivity/quarantine rate of 2% or higher at any school district building will restore the district wide wearing of masks for a minimum of 10 days or until the rate falls below 2%.

Despite the approved changes, masks remain required to be worn on school transportation until the expiration of current federal regulations.