(KAIR)--The wearing of face masks in all Atchison County Community School facilities is now optional.

That followed action of the Board of Education for Atchison County’s USD 377 this week.

The decision, approved by a 4 to 2 vote during Tuesday’s meeting of the school board, overturns a decision made last week during a special meeting.

At that time, it was decided by the school board that all unvaccinated elementary-aged students, from PreK through 6th grade, along with staff, were required to wear face masks.

Tuesday’s decision overturns that mandate.

Meanwhile, in an "effort to reduce the number of students quarantined from school," the Jefferson County North Board of Education this week adopted measures, including the voluntary wearing of masks within school district facilities.

That's according to a letter made available to parents and patrons this week, as published to the district’s website on Wednesday.

According to the letter, the Board of Education for USD 339 adopted the measures Monday, with the school board "strongly"recommending that parents monitor students for symptoms and "keep children home when ill or symptoms occur.”

Six COVID-19 prevention-related measures are outlined in the letter, including that face mask wearing is optional in school buildings and on buses. Student temperatures will be checked daily upon entry to school, and parents and staff will be notified of possible COVID exposure.

Additional measures pertain to those students and staff who test positive for the coronavirus, with the letter stating they must isolate and PCR test on day 7 after testing positive "to return to school on day 8 with a negative PCR test result.” In the alternative to testing, they must isolate for ten days, with all students and staff testing positive required to "be COVID symptom free before [they] return to school.”

The letter also explains what students with two or more of the COVID symptoms listed in the letter, including having a temperature above 100, must do in order to return to class. That includes an evaluation from a medical professional or the health department for a release to return, isolate for 10 days from the start of symptoms, and have a negative PCR test.

The new measures, as adopted by the school board, take effect Monday.