The Strong-Huttig School District will hold a COVID-19 vaccination clinic this week for district students who are 16 or older.
Parents or guardians of students who are eligible for vaccination must sign a consent form to allow their children to take the vaccine.
The district has partnered with the Medical Center of South Arkansas for the clinic, which is scheduled for Thursday, April 15 at 1 p.m.
The Pfizer brand COVID vaccine has been approved for use in children 16 and up. It is also being tested for safe use in children 12 and up, though it has not yet received FDA approval for such use.
SHSD Superintendent Kimberly Thomas said those who would like to learn more about the clinic or who would like to sign their child up should call 870-797-7322.
The district will be making a final decision on whether to maintain mandatory masking on school premises this evening at a regular school board meeting.
Since Gov. Asa Hutchinson lifted the statewide mask mandate implemented to mitigate community spread of the virus in late March, the SHSD has continued asking students to wear face masks at school.
Earlier this month, the district distributed a survey to parents, students, teachers and other members of the community asking for their input on whether to continue mandatory masking or allow students and their families to choose whether the student wears a mask at school.
The Smackover-Norphlet School Board became the first in Union County to make face masks optional on school grounds during a specially-called meeting last Thursday. Superintendents of the El Dorado and Parkers Chapel school districts have both announced that masking would continue to be required in their respective districts through the end of the 2020/2021 school year.
Tonight, the Strong-Huttig School Board will finalize its decision on masking at its meeting scheduled for 6 p.m.