ATLANTIC â The Atlantic School Board approved extending its mask mandate until the end of the semester â Dec. 22 â but agreed to meet again next Wednesday to revisit it because of Governor Kim Reynolds new health guidelines that end Dec. 16. Another concern was that some students were under performing or failing classes since they started remote learning. The district originally encouraged the use of masks and face coverings, but approved a 30 day mask mandate in October, after receiving numerous comments on the issue, including a letter from the Cass County Board of Health that advised the board to implement the mandate immediately. State guidelines regarding the use of masks and quarantining changed that month- which stated anyone wearing a mask who comes in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 does not need to be quarantined- which spurred the board to consider and approve the mandate. In November, the board continued the mandate until Dec. 10, because members felt it was helping keep the number of staff and students who had to be quarantined down.