“Tonight, the Haywood County School Board voted to make masks optional for all students and staff effective immediately, February 15, 2022. We would like to thank the Haywood County Health Department for their assistance through the pandemic.” says Dr. Trevor Putnam, Associate Superintendent.

Following the mask optional decision, staff and students who test positive will have the option to isolate for 5 days and return to school wearing a mask on days 6-10 or isolate for 10 days per the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit and CDC guidance.

Effective February 21, 2022, contact tracing will be eliminated per the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit. This means staff and students will not have to quarantine following a close contact with a positive. We recommend that staff and students monitor for symptoms and stay at home if symptoms develop.

Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.

Masks are still required on buses and for staff and students who opt to use the 5 plus 5 model.

Athletic Directors and Coaches should continue to coordinate with other districts who may have different masking policies per the NCHSAA.

Policy 4231-5021-7263: Face Coverings Option B