Refusal to wear face mask in Wake schools could get students suspended, workers fired
The Wake County school system could fire employees and require students to attend online classes if they repeatedly refuse to wear face coverings at school.
Draft guidelines presented to a Wake County school board committee on Tuesday emphasize the importance of wearing face coverings as a way to reduce the transmission risk of COVID-19. The guidelines warn that students and school employees who repeatedly violate the mask policy and other health guidelines face disciplinary consequences.
“Medical professionals have stressed that the single most critical factor in a successful return to in-person instruction during the pandemic is the development of and strict implementation of health safety protocols,” A.J. Muttillo, Wake’s assistant superintendent of human resources, told the board’s policy committee.
The guidelines allow for limited exceptions, such as short mask breaks during the day, or when students have a disability and when an employee has a medical issue.
The guidelines come as the school board approved a plan Tuesday to begin bringing back K-8 students for in-person classes starting in October.
“There is a great deal of concern and fears out there,” said board member Christine Kushner, chairwoman of the policy committee. “We should not be dismissing anyone’s fears of a spread of this disease.”
The Wake County school system has been closed for in-person instruction since mid-March to try to slow the spread of COVID-19. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper allowed schools to reopen in August as long as they followed certain precautions, including requiring that all people wear face coverings on school buses and on school campuses.
Some question face masks
Wearing a face covering has become a political issue. Some people, such as Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, object to a statewide face mask mandate.
The student guidelines say that Wake parents who don’t want their children to wear a face covering at school must request a disability-based accommodation that is supported by medical need. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Employee guidelines say staff who don’t want to wear face coverings must get an exception for medical reasons from Human Resources.
Students would be allowed to briefly remove the face coverings when directed by staff during breakfast and lunch.
Employees may also give students a face covering break if they can meet all of the following conditions:
▪ Outside only.
▪ Spaced 8-10 feet from all other individuals, including employees.
▪ Students should remain stationary in the same space.
▪ Students should all face the same direction.
The guidelines also say that students should stay 6 feet apart from employees, other students and visitors at all times. Employees are to stay 6 feet apart from other people when feasible.
Extra face coverings will be available at school if a student or employee forgets to bring one or if the one they have is broken.
“We really have to make sure that we’re communicating with our students and our families what the expectations are, but at the same time not want to interrupt instruction,” Kushner said.
Consequences for not wearing face coverings
The guidelines say that if a student or employee unintentionally violates the health safety protocols that someone is to remind them of why they need to be followed. School board member Lindsay Mahaffey says this allows the district to show some grace, particularly to students who have sensory processing issues.
The guidelines say that “when support and non-disciplinary interventions are not enough to change student behavior that may risk the health safety of a school community,” students can receive in-school or out-of-school suspensions.
“Additionally, willful or repeated failures to wear masks at school could result in an involuntary transfer to a virtual learning environment,” the guidelines say.
Parents will be asked to sign a form acknowledging the safety protocols. While not legally binding, school board member Jim Martin suggested that students sign the form as well as a way to set expectations for them.
The guidelines warn that “serious, intentional or willful instances of noncompliance or repeated instances of noncompliance” by employees can lead to disciplinary action “up to, and including, dismissal.”
“This document attempts to get at that balance of creating the conditions where every employee does realize it’s his or her responsibility to keep each other safe,” Muttillo said. “But then it also outlines how to do that and what happens if those protocols aren’t followed.”
This story was originally published September 29, 2020 at 3:53 PM.
