In response to Gov. Kim Reynolds' lifting of the statewide face covering mandate, the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Community School District has rescinded its requirement that they be worn whenever social distancing is not possible.

The board on Feb. 17 voted 3-2 to follow the district's original return to learn plan, which includes mitigation strategies to limit the spread of the coronavirus within school facilities. The strategies include staying six feet from others as much as possible, frequent handwashing and "optional use of face coverings when able to do so safely and correctly."

The only patron to speak was Melissa Newkirk, who expressed support for continuing the mask mandate.

Board Member Dave Vander Broek agreed, and said the board should take into consideration the slow progress of vaccinations as well potential new variants of the coronavirus.

"Those are two reasons for going the way we've been going," said Vander Broek, who voted against the motion to end the mask mandate.

Board Vice President Scott Vollink also voted against ending the mandate.

Those voting in favor of making face coverings optional were Board President Scott Heetland and Board Members Ryan Haack and Chad Lyman.

"We went with the governor's recommendation before and I'm ready to go with what we were doing," Heetland said.