Which Mahoning Valley Schools are requiring masks? Here’s a list

[Editor's note: This story has been changed to correct the proper name for Weathersfield Local Schools.]

YOUNGSTOWN — Most school districts in the Mahoning Valley planned to make masks optional at the start of the school year.

But the rampant spread of the delta variant and an unexpected uptick in child respiratory illnesses has forced some school districts to reconsider at the last minute, inciting the ire of anti-mask parents.

Of the 47 districts in the tri-county area, 22 are requiring masks for some or all students, at least temporarily.

But don't forget — even if masks are optional in your district, children are required by federal mandate to wear a mask while riding the bus.

This list will be updated as school districts provide information to Mahoning Matters.

Mahoning County

Austintown Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 30

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Boardman Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 30

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Campbell Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 23

Mask policy: Masks are required for all students

Canfield Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 22

Mask policy: Masks are required for K-6 students and all staff and visitors beginning Sept. 22

Cardinal Mooney High School

First day of school: Aug. 23

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Jackson-Milton Local Schools

First day of school: Sept. 8

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Lowellville Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 23

Mask policy: All students, staff and visitors are required to wear masks

Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley

First day of school: Aug. 30

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Poland Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 26

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Sebring Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 19

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

South Range Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 24

Mask policy: Masks are required for all students and staff when three feet of social distancing can't be maintained

Springfield Local Schools

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Struthers City Schools

First day of school: Aug. 25

Mask policy: Masks are required for students and staff

Ursuline High School

First day of school: Aug. 19

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Valley Christian Schools

First day of school: Aug. 30

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

West Branch Local Schools

First day of school: Sept. 8 for grades 1-12; Sept. 13 and Sept. 14 for kindergarten

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Western Reserve Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 26

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Youngstown City Schools

First day of school: Sept. 7

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Trumbull County

Bloomfield-Mespo Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 24

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Bristol Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 25

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Brookfield Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 26 for grades 1-12; Sept. 13 for kindergarten class

Mask policy: Masks are required for all students, staff and visitors when indoors

Champion Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 18

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Girard City Schools

First day of school: Aug. 23

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Howland City Schools

First day of school: Sept. 7 for grades 1-12; Sept. 8 for kindergarten; Sept. 13 for preschool

Mask policy: Masks are required temporarily. Masks are optional for visitors who spend less than 15 minutes in a building

Hubbard Exempted Village Schools

First day of school: Aug 25

Mask policy: Masks are required for all students temporarily

John F. Kennedy Catholic School

First day of school: Aug. 20

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Joseph Badger School District

First day of school: Aug. 24 for grades 1-12; Aug. 30 for kindergarten

Mask policy: Masks are optional

LaBrae Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 31 for grades 1-12; Sept. 2 for kindergarten

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Lakeview Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 16 for grades 1-12; Aug. 23 for kindergarten

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Liberty Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 30 for grades 1-12; Sept. 7 for kindergarten; Sept 9 for preschool

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Lordstown Local Schools

First day of school: Sept. 7

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Maplewood Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 23

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Mathews Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 30 for grades 1-12; Sept. 7 for kindergarten

Mask policy: Masks are optional

McDonald Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 18

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Newton Falls Exempted Village Schools

First day of school: Aug. 26

Mask policy: Masks are required for students and visitors

Niles City Schools

First day of school: Aug. 30 for grades 1-12

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Southington Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 25

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Warren City Schools

First day of school: Aug. 23

Mask policy: All students and staff are required to wear masks indoors

Weathersfield Local Schools

First day of school: Sept. 2

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Columbiana County

Beaver Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 30

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Columbiana Exempted Village Schools

First day of school: Aug. 25

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Crestview Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 23

Mask policy: Masks are required temporarily

East Liverpool City Schools

First day of school: Aug. 25

Mask policy: Masks were required for all students beginning Sept. 16, 2021. Administrators said they intended to revisit the decision after two weeks.

East Palestine City Schools

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Leetonia Exempted Village Schools

First day of school: Aug. 23

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Lisbon Exempted Village Schools

First day of school: Aug. 23 for grades 1-12; Aug. 30 for preschool and kindergarten

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Salem City Schools

First day of school: Aug. 25

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Southern Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 24

Mask policy: Masks are optional

United Local Schools

First day of school: Aug. 30

Mask policy: Masks are optional

Wellsville Local Schools

Mask policy: Masks are optional

This story was originally published August 25, 2021 at 4:11 AM with the headline "Which Mahoning Valley Schools are requiring masks? Here’s a list."