Face masks required in Johnston County Schools after board reverses decision
Students will be required to wear face masks in the classroom after the Johnston County Board of Education reversed course on Tuesday night.
Posted — UpdatedBoard member Kay Carroll presented a motion to mandate masks, and give students a "normal" school year.
“Masks have shown to cut down on the transmission, there’s no question about that, that’s data, that’s science," he said. "Anything else is just taking a stance.”
The school board voted 4 to 3 in favor of an indoor mask mandate for the upcoming school year, with members Michael Wooten, Ronald Johnson and Board Chair Todd Sutton opposed.
“I hate COVID, I hate the fact that we have to address this, but this is what it is," said board member Lyn Andrews, who voted in favor of the mandate. "I hate masks I hate putting them on small children ... I hurt for the kids who have to wear these masks all day long.”
Andrews said she was concerned that students wearing masks would have to quarantine after being exposed to other students who are unmasked.
Carroll said that the longer students remain unmasked, the more coronavirus will mutate and intensify. To avoid another school shutdown, he said, masks would need to be required for all students.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported on Tuesday that there are dozens of active COVID-19 clusters in schools across the state.
On Tuesday, seven coronavirus cases - with six among students- were tied to South Johnston High School in Johnston County.
“We are now at the same level as we were in December when we had to force a shutdown," Sessoms said.
As of Tuesday, more than 14% of tests results reported in the state came back positive.
What have other school districts decided on face masks?
Most schools in the WRAL viewing area are requiring masks, except for Harnett, Sampson, Wayne Counties and Roanoke Rapids Graded School District.
On Tuesday night, school boards with both the Warren County and Cumberland County schools voted to mandate masks in classrooms.
“Our top priority is to operate our schools in-person all year as safely as possible," said Dr. Marvin Connelly, Jr., Cumberland County Schools superintendent. "Universal masking is one of the best ways we can help prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
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