CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Chesapeake Public Schools held a special public meeting on Friday, where school board members made face masks mandatory again for students in K-12 schools.
It changed an earlier decision that would have made masks optional for students, starting January 3, 2022.
“If you choose to send your child to school with a mask, I support you,” school board member Christie New Craig said when the policy was voted on earlier in December. “But one person should not be able to choose for the next person.”
The optional mask move was going to violate the Virginia Department of Health Commissioner’s public health order, which requires all K-12 students to mask up unless the CDC changes its guidelines.
“That order is in place until which time it is changed,” said school board member Dr. Patricia King, who voted against allowing masks to be optional weeks ago. “It has not been changed, and we are obligated as elected officials to follow the law.”
School staff members had been required to keep their masks through both decisions. That's required by state law.
The decision to require masks for students again happened in a school board meeting that had some parents shouting, and a brief closed session where security escorted members of the public out of their chamber, before letting them back inside.
“We wanted so badly to make it optional, but as we saw the numbers go up, we had the discretion of course as the board to make sure we do what is right for the kids and for our staff," said Board Vice-Chair Colleen Leary.
The board is also keeping with its original decision to suspend student-athlete vaccinations or regular COVID-19 testing.