To mask or not to mask?  The answer to that question could be placed into the hands of the superintendent of a school district in northern Trumbull County.

The Maplewood Board of Education has called a special meeting for 5 p.m. Friday at the high school cafeteria to approve a resolution granting Superintendent Perry Nicholas the authority to issue a mask mandate if needed this school year.

Masks are currently optional in the Maplewood School District, which covers Greene, Johnston, and Mecca Townships.

As of Thursday, the district’s website reported five active COVID-19 cases and 42 people under quarantine.

A post on Maplewood’s Facebook page notes that while masks are not currently mandated, wearing a mask prevents children from being placed into quarantine by the Trumbull County Department of Health.