Wake County Schools

Mask decision looms for Wake schools as tension builds over issue for parents, GOP group

On Tuesday afternoon, the largest school district in North Carolina could decide whether to make masks mandatory for students.

Posted Updated

By
Nia Harden
, WRAL reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — On Tuesday afternoon, the largest school district in North Carolina could decide whether to make masks mandatory for students.
School districts across the state are revisiting policies now that the CDC has revised guidance to battle the Delta variant.

Some are encouraging people to protest during the Wake County Board of Education meeting to pressure members to do away with the masks.

The agenda for Tuesday's work session and public meeting shows the district is planning to recommend students in all grades wear masks.

Petitions for and against that policy have also been created as people are passionate about this topic. Expect a lot of noise today from both sides of the aisle.

The Wake County GOP has shared a petition created by the Carolina Teachers Alliance against a possible mask mandate. The party feels that the mandate infringes on students' "educational rights."
Meanwhile, a group of Wake County parents and students started their own petition weeks ago, asking to keep mask requirements in place.
Wake County has 61% of its adult population with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 58% fully vaccinated. Durham, Wake and Orange are the most vaccinated counties in central NC.

WRAL News has reported that several schools have seen a coronavirus outbreak since classes began for students on year-round calendars.

The North Carolina Pediatric Society supports students returning to the classroom along with universal mask mandates for students, teachers, staff and visitors. The group penned an open letter to the state's schools that was published on Tuesday.

“To best promote mental and physical health of our children, the N.C. Pediatric Society (NCPeds) stands with the American Academy of Pediatrics to urge in-person schooling for children," said Dr. Christoph Diasio, president of NCPeds. "The best way to achieve that at this time of the much more contagious Delta variant and low vaccination rates is to require masks in all grade levels.”'

Diasio noted that only 26% of children aged 12 to 17 in North Carolina are fully vaccinated, making wearing masks even more important. A COVID-19 vaccine intended for children under 12 is not currently available.

On Monday night, the Lee County School Board voted schools should require masks for K-12 students in the upcoming school year. Nash County Schools also voted to enact a mask mandate while the Johnston County Board of Education voted 4-3 last week to make masks optional for its K-12 students.

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