KOAM Most Kansas schools drop mask rules as variant drives surge "We can say with confidence that we have now led in a pandemic, but none of us yet have led coming out of a pandemic." July 9, 2021 4:58 PM Associated Press Updated: WICHITA, Kan. -Most Kansas schoolchildren and teachers, regardless of whether they’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19, won’t be required to wear face masks next school year. Schools find themselves under pressure to return to more normal, pre-pandemic operations. But officials say they stand ready to pivot — including reinstating mask mandates — if the pandemic worsens dramatically. “Should adjustments to our plan be required,” said Alicia Thompson, superintendent of the state’s largest school district in Wichita, “we will bring our pandemic leadership team back together to recommend adjustments.”