Last Updated on August 10, 2021 1:37 pm
On Monday night the Watauga County Board of Education voted unanimously to now require masks for everyone in the Watauga County Schools system. This comes as COVID-19 cases are on the rise both locally and in the region.
Masks/face-coverings will be strongly encouraged but optional for middle and high school athletes during practice and competition. The motion presented by Steve Combs is below:
“Due to the growing rate of transmission and the increased contagiousness of the Delta variant, including recent examples of cases and quarantines among school aged children here in our community, and to minimize transmission of the virus and unnecessary quarantines of students and staff…
I move that effective immediately we require indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, volunteers, and visitors when inside any school owned facilities and vehicles, regardless of vaccination status. Exceptions would be made for employees who are in their offices, classrooms, or school owned vehicles while alone or only with members of their own households. Face coverings will be strongly encouraged but optional for middle and high school athletes during practice and competition, and reserve the right to direct staff to further restrict this flexibility for athletes if conditions warrant.”
UPDATE Monday, August 9 7:53 pm – Here is the motion made by BOE member Steve Combs:
Due to the growing rate of transmission and the increased contagiousness of the Delta variant, including recent examples of cases and quarantines among school aged children here in our community, and to minimize transmission of the virus and unnecessary quarantines of students and staff…
I move that effective immediately we require indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, volunteers, and visitors when inside any school owned facilities and vehicles, regardless of vaccination status. Exceptions would be made for employees who are in their offices, classrooms, or school owned vehicles while alone or only with members of their own households. Face coverings will be strongly encouraged but optional for middle and high school athletes during practice and competition, and reserve the right to direct staff to further restrict this flexibility for athletes if conditions warrant.
BREAKING Monday, August 9, 7:03 pm – WataugaOnline has learned just now that the Watauga County Board of Education has changed their previous optional mask requirement and has unanimously voted to require masks in schools.
WataugaOnline.com will update as more information becomes available.
