Cumberland County Board of Education votes to continue mask mandate in school buildings

Steve DeVane, The Fayetteville Observer
·1 min read

The Cumberland County Board of Education voted 6-1 Tuesday to continue its policy of requiring masks indoors for at least another month.

Board member Nathan Warfel was the only one to vote against continuing the mandate.

Board members Judy Musgrave and Carrie Sutton were not at the meeting, which was broadcast on the school system's YouTube channel.

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The school board is required by state law to review and vote to continue or discontinue the mask mandate each month.

Pandemic surge: COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations set records in Cumberland County, health officials say

Earlier in the meeting, Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. told the board about efforts to keep students safe in Cumberland County Schools. He said the current rate of positive tests for COVID-19 is more than 32% in Cumberland County.

Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. talked to the Board of Education at its meeting Tuesday about efforts to keep students safe while attending classes in-person. The meeting was broadcast on the school system's YouTube page.
Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Marvin Connelly Jr. talked to the Board of Education at its meeting Tuesday about efforts to keep students safe while attending classes in-person. The meeting was broadcast on the school system's YouTube page.

Connelly went over the testing and vaccination opportunities for students and staff members. He encouraged everyone to stay six feet apart, wash their hand regularly and wear masks.

“Let’s do our part to keep our students safe and healthy,” he said.

Connelly said the school system’s goal is to keep students safe while attending classes in-person.

“To do this, we all have to do what we can,” he said. “If we all do our part, it will make a huge difference and keep everyone safe.”

The school system had 828 cases of COVID-19 during the first two days of the semester that started last week, according to its website. More than 1,060 students and staff members were in quarantine and 28.3% of tests for the disease taken during that time were positive.

Local news editor Steve DeVane can be reached at sdevane@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3572.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County Board of Education votes to continue mask mandate