ROCK SPRINGS — Sweetwater County School District No. 1 followed suit with the SCSD No. 2 Board of Trustees in voting to remove a mask mandate for students, teachers, and staff when the new year starts next month.

The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the measure following an executive session at its July meeting tonight.

Trustee Matt Jackman made the motion to follow all state-recommended guidelines and be ready in case a mandate reinstates wearing masks in schools. Currently, there are no health orders requiring masks in the state of Wyoming.

“My opinion is we don’t have recommendations or orders from the state, therefore we don’t have orders for our schools,” Jackman said. “However I would also recommend that we make as much information available as we can so parents can make the best decisions for their families.”

Trustee Max Mickelson said the district should be supportive and respect the comfort levels of families, students, and staff who choose to wear masks.

Chairperson Carol Jelaco said if the state at some point hands down health orders to reimplement masks, the District will follow those orders.