STUDENTS in the Ocean View School District will not be required to wear masks at school as of March 12 (Shutterstock).

By Sydnee Valdez/Orange County Tribune

Students and staff in Ocean View School District will no longer be required to wear masks effective March 12. The Ocean View School District Board of Trustees met on Tuesday to talk about construction updates, donations to select schools, and updates on the mask mandate.

“I am excited that our mask mandate will be lifted, and next week we will see all of our students’ lovely faces without their masks,” said Superintendent Carol Hansen.

Another topic covered in Tuesday’s meeting was the proposal of a new installment of eight feet-tall chain link fence fabric at Harbour View Elementary School in Huntington Beach. The current 1800 feet long chain link fence is only five feet tall and is rusted, causing safety concerns. Numerous break-ins have also occurred with people climbing, cutting, or bending back the fencing. The new fencing will alleviate safety concerns and make it more difficult for people to climb over.

The board also accepted a total of $34,622.76 in donations from citizens, local community groups, businesses, and parent/teacher/faculty organizations. Recipients of the donations include Circle View, College View, Golden View, Harbour View, Hope View, Lake View, Mesa View Middle, Vista View Middle, and Westmount School.

College View received $3,000 from the College View Parent Teacher Association (PTA) for permits, Vista View parents donated $683.40 for supplies, and a Westmont parent donated $180 for supplies. Golden View school received $1,050 from the Huntington Harbour Philharmonic Committee (HHPC) and Golden View Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for music and field trips. Harbour View received $586 from HHPC and the Assistance League of Huntington Beach for music and supplies.

HHPC also donated $500 to Hope View School. Lake View PTO and the Assistance League of Huntington Beach donated $4,100 for field trips and supplies, while Mesa View Middle School received $1,650 from Lee and Beverly Muchow and the Mesa View Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) for archery. Mesa View parents and PTSO also donated $2,173.36 for supplies. Circle View received the most donations with a total of $20,700 from parents and the Circle View PTO for Astro Camp, supplies and duplication, and transportation and field trips.