Masks Now Optional At Loudoun Schools After Court Ruling

Ashburn VA

16 February, 2022

10:04 PM

Description

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — Students in Loudoun County will not be required to wear masks on Thursday. A judge from the Loudoun County Circuit Court issued a temporary injunction on Wednesday in favor of parents who were challenging the school system's mask mandate. The parents argued the county's mask mandate ran counter to Gov. Glenn Youngkin's executive order, which said parents had the right to choose whether their children wore masks in public schools. Seven school districts across the state had filed a lawsuit that temporarily blocked the governor's order, while others, like Loudoun County, decided to keep their mask mandate in place until legislation was passed through the state's legislative houses. The Loudoun County school system had been disciplining students who refused to wear masks in school. Some students were isolated in auditoriums or gymnasiums during the school day and were suspended if they continued not to comply. In a statement on Wednesday night, Superintendent Scott Ziegler said the discipline would be removed from the students' records. Students and staff members may continue to wear masks in classrooms if they would like. "The decision of whether to wear a mask or not is deeply personal for many families, we ask that you respect the decision of others," Ziegler wrote. "No one should be made to feel uncomfortable about their choice." Read more: Parents Sue Loudoun School Board Over Continued Mask MandateYoungkin Signs Mask Opt-Out Bill, With March 1 Effective Date The removal of the mask mandates does not apply to students while they are on buses. A federal mandate still stands and requires masks on buses. "We're excited that Loudoun has reached this decision," Youngkin said in a statement. "Importantly, the court ordered that any disciplinary action against students who were punished for following their parents' decision to remove their mask will be expunged from their records." Since his campaign, Youngkin has claimed to favor the rights of parents in school. "Not only did we pass a bipartisan bill empowering parents to opt-out of school mask mandates, but also the Loudoun Circuit Court reaffirmed parents' rights to have a say in their child's health, education, care, and wellbeing," Youngkin said.