Staff in area schools couldn’t opt out of masks before. They can starting March 1.
Amid tumbling COVID case numbers and a new perspective at the state level, the Mitchell County Board of Education at its regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 17 approved a decision to make masks optional in area schools for students and staff effective March 1.
The board decided during Superintendent Chad Calhoun’s monthly COVID report during which he said there were 21 students and five staff members in quarantine as of the meeting. Of those, all of the students were COVID positive and three of the staff members were positive.
Those numbers are down significantly from the January meeting just three weeks prior when Calhoun noted that more than 85 students and staff were in quarantine.
“Those numbers are definitely going down,” Calhoun said. “This is the lowest we’ve been in a very long time.”
Calhoun reminded the board that Gov. Roy Cooper earlier that same day encouraged school districts to make masks optional by March 7. NC lawmakers also passed a bill that would make masks optional in public schools across the state, with the decision at the discretion of families.
Mitchell County schools have required masks for students and staff but parents could fill out an opt-out form for their child. There was previously no opt-out option for faculty and staff.
Calhoun and board chair Brandon Pitman both agreed that there should be some time between the announcement and the new policy taking effect.
The board discussed March 1 as the effective date with some discussion about waiting until March 7.
Board member Kathy Young stated her support for March 1 by making a motion.
“The sooner we can do that, the better off we’re going to be,” she said.
Board member Sam Blevins seconded Young’s motion, which passed by a 4-1 vote with board member Brenda Sparks as the lone dissenter. Sparks said she was in favor of waiting until March 7 to stay on the “safe” side.
“The people that feel like they need to wear a mask can still wear a mask,” said board member Angie Burleson.
While masks will be optional for students and staff in school buildings starting March 1, they’ll still be required on buses. Pitman noted that’s because they’re treated as federal realms, not state or local. Those returning from quarantine must still also mask for a specified period when returning.
“When they get on the bus, unless something changes, they still have to mask,” Pitman said. “That’s somewhat confusing for parents and the general public. It’s because it’s federal, not state.”
In other action, the board:
• Heard a presentation from Gretta Lamb of Mayland Early College High School. Lamb, the school’s current valedictorian and a Marion resident, spoke about her experience at the school and told the board about herself. She touted her great experience at the school and the savings, both of money and time, that she has taken advantage of by going to MECHS.
• Approved the grant application for the district’s new school project.
• Unanimously approved an updated district-wide pay scale.