HANNIBAL â In a major change in the Hannibal School Districtâs pandemic prevention policy, the Hannibal Board of Education has approved starting the upcoming school year with the wearing of masks by students and staff as optional. Despite a recent surge in COVID cases across the country and within Missouri, the school board unanimously approved Superintendent Susan Johnsonâs recommendation during the recent July meeting of the board in the Hannibal High School auditorium. âI believe that most of the mitigation measures we practiced regularly last year need to be continued throughout the upcoming school year, except now that a vaccination is available for those who are willing recipients, masks, I believe, should be optional,â Johnson said. âI do also want to recommend that as a school district we continue to closely monitor our community (COVID) spread as we move into the future, because the future is unknown, and be responsible and do what is best for all people. We need to ensure our plan fits our community at all times.â