(KMZA)--Beginning March 22, masks will be " recommended" rather than required in Prairie Hills USD 113.

Superintendent Todd Evans said the Board of Education voted to make the change during Monday evening's meeting.

Until then, the district's " Practical Mask Plan" will remain in place as is. 

Evans said the Board took the action after hearing from a number of patrons on both sides of the issue and examining the results of a survey of parents and staff.

The Axtell School is currently under Marshall County's mask mandate, while the Sabetha and Wetmore schools are currently under the district's mask plan.

The Sabetha City Commission voted February 1 to rescind the city's mask mandate and the Nemaha County Commission voted last month to rescind the countywide mask mandate.

Evans said those mandates were more restrictive than the district's mask plan, which was approved in August.