BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — In a unanimous decision, the Buncombe County Board of Education voted Tuesday to make masking optional at county schools.
The masking optional policy goes into effect on Feb. 28, 2022. This means that masks in schools are strongly encouraged, but not required.
The vote came during a special meeting to discuss the district's Return to Learn Plan.
Masks will continue to be required on school and activity buses, per federal law.
On Feb. 17, Gov. Roy Cooper recommended all mask mandates across the state be lifted, as COVID-19 metrics indicate a decrease in the spread of the virus.
The positive trend in metrics has prompted many school districts across the state to make masking optional inside district walls.
On Tuesday, 14 parents addressed the board, when 11 parents asked for the board to get rid of the mandate and three asked to continue with the mandate.
“There's a big difference in not having to wear a mask in the grocery store and not having to wear a mask in the classroom,” Kim Pressley said during public comments.
However, the Ashe family asked for masking to stay in place out of fear for the immunocompromised community.
“In 2019, Hazel was diagnosed with leukemia,” mother Catherin Ashe said. “You’re facing caution on one hand that hurts nobody or taking off the mask, which has the potential to hurt some children.”
Ashe’s daughter Hazel also took time during the meeting to ask that the mandate stays in place, despite the governor's recommendation.
“I would like to keep on the mask because, if we stop them, kids like me cannot go to school,” Hazel Ashe said.
Buncombe County parent Taylor Haynes pointed out that county commissioners have already lifted the masking requirement.
“Why do our children still have a mask mandate when the entirety of Buncombe County does not,” Haynes asked. “What you are doing to our children is psychological warfare”
In addition to public comment, 40 emails were sent to the board of education – 18 asking to keep masking in place, while 22 asked for the district to make masking optional.
Education officials said, over the next few days, they would be revising the training for the district's COVID-19 support team as COVID notifications will be slightly different in a mask optional setting. This additional time will also allow parents an opportunity to get their child vaccinated before the first mask-optional day, if they wish, officials said.
District officials said they would be watching COVID-19 metrics and would revisit or revise the mask policy if the metrics trend upward.
Superintendent Tony Baldwin reported 79 of the 115 public school districts in the state have moved to optional masking over universal.
If a staffer or student tests positive for COVID-19, they’ll still need to quarantine for five days and mask up for days six through ten if they return for in-person learning.