Dear BEA Community:
As many of you have heard by now, the governor has ordered a mask mandate for all K-12 school districts in the state and also includes private and parochial schools. This mandate takes effect on Tuesday, September 7.
I have received several emails from parents wanting to pull their children out of school into Cyber School and some have asked for the Board and me to go against the mandate. We must follow this mandate. To not follow the mandate opens up the district, as well as individuals, to personal liability. It also jeopardizes the district's insurance policies on liability insurance. Persons not following this mandate are also subject to penalty provisions of the Disease Prevention and Control Law of 1955. This is not about ESSER funding. Private schools fall under the scope of this mandate and many of them do not receive federal funding.
I do believe that this will likely meet resistance from the legislature and likely could be decided in the courts.
I saw how happy many of our students were today to be back in school. It is my hope that students continue to come to school, in-person, despite the mandate. I realize that this topic has been polarizing throughout our country. Whatever decision parents make regarding keeping their children in school or moving to Cyber School, the district will work with you to make your children's education a positive experience.
One final note, this mandate does not impact sports. Students will not be required to wear masks while practicing or participating in sporting events.
I will keep you updated as events warrant.
Sincerely,
Scott V. Graham
Superintendent