The Haywood County Schools Board of Education held a Special Called Board Meeting at 6:00 pm on Monday, June 21, 2021. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the state mask mandate for students and staff. The Board held a lengthy discussion about the current mask mandate for students and staff. Board Attorney, Pat Smathers advised the Board that it was outside the Board’s realm of authority to direct students and staff to not follow the current mask mandate from the state. After additional discussion, the Board unanimously passed two motions.
The first motion stated that Haywood County Schools Board of Education publicly opposes the current mask mandate for public schools in North Carolina and directs the school administration to develop procedures to comply with the mandate but lessen the negative impact by encouraging and implementing social distancing and outdoor instruction pursuant to Tool Kit guidelines.
The Superintendent provides the following procedures and guidance for Principals, Summer School Directors, and Summer Childcare Directors regarding the Board’s action.
- Remind students and staff that masks are only required when school is in session inside school buildings. Currently, this includes Summer School and Summer Childcare.
- Remind students and staff that masks are optional in outside settings.
- Remind staff that masks are optional inside when Summer School and Summer Childcare are not in session. This includes settings in which no students are present like teacher planning times and adult only areas.
- Conduct Summer School and Summer Childcare in outside settings whenever reasonably practical.
- Use mask breaks with social distancing as often as practical and as authorized in the state Tool Kit when it is not practical to have Summer School and Summer Childcare outside.
The second motion stated that the Haywood County Schools Board of Education supports Senate Bill 173. Senate Bill 173, if passed into law, would give local School Boards the authority to establish local mask rules and regulations. The Board directed Superintendent, Bill Nolte and Board Attorney, Pat Smathers to send documentation of the Board’s support for Senate Bill 173 to all appropriate state elected officials.
Contact: Dr. Bill Nolte, Superintendent