Prince George will adhere to mask opt-out order in schools. System head asks for respect.
PRINCE GEORGE — Starting Monday, county school students will not have to wear masks in class if their parents don't want it.
Thursday night, the School Board voted to comply with Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive order giving parents the right to opt-out their kids from wearing masks while on school property. However, if those students ride a school bus, masks will still be required.
Also, should a student without a mask become exposed to COVID-19, they will have the choice of remaining home for a 10-day isolation period, or return to school after five days but wear a mask inside for the next five days.
The Youngkin order takes effect Monday, Jan. 24.
"While [the Youngkin order] does provide parents with the opportunity to opt-out of having their children wear masks at school, we ask that all members of our school community be respectful of the choices of others," superintendent Dr. Lisa Pennycuff wrote in a letter on the school system website. "We ask that those who choose not to wear a mask be courteous and kind to others and consider wearing a mask when approaching a person who chooses to wear one."
The decision does not apply to faculty, staff or visitors to the school buildings. In the letter, Pennycuff said masks will still be required for them, but the decision "will be revisited" once the system receives state and federal guidance.
Once the news broke, parents took to social media to express their concerns. One parent said the decision was "1000% political."
"There is NO scientific anything behind this decision," Brittney Garcia wrote. "The same people who will send their kids without a mask are going to be the same ones pissed off in a week or two when we end up virtual due to the increase in cases."
Another parent hoped that the decision will not divide students.
"I pray that my boys walk into school Monday and know - whoever was their friend Friday is still their friend Monday regardless if they have a mask on or not!" Michelle Marie posted. "A personal choice or belief cannot define our children! Don’t let this decision cause our children to pick and choose who is right or wrong - just simple respect goes a long ways!"
Valashareion Whitlow said her daughter is susceptible to respiratory infections, but claimed there is no option for her to pick virtual learning.
"Virtual learning should be put back on the table since going maskless is a choice," she posted.
Related: Virginia State University no longer requires employees to be COVID vaccinated or tested
Prince George's decision was announced the same day that its area neighbor Hopewell said it would not adhere to the executive order. As of Friday, 11 school divisions across the state said they would defy the governor's directive.
Related: Colonial Heights, Dinwiddie join list of school systems keeping mask mandates in place
Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is daily news coach for USA TODAY's Southeast Region-Unified Central, which includes Virginia, West Virginia and central North Carolina. He is based in Petersburg, Virginia. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Prince George schools will follow governor's mask opt-out order
