Masks Now 'Recommended But Not Required' In Gwinnett Schools

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Georgia’s biggest school district has joined several other metro Atlanta districts in loosening its mask mandate.

In a post to its website, Gwinnett County Public Schools announced that masks are now “strongly recommended but not required” on all campuses, starting in June. No mention was made of having to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Masks previously had been required.

The Gwinnett announcement came with a proviso: Those who either must or choose to mask up will be accommodated.

“The district is mindful that while masks will not be required there will be individuals who will continue to wear masks for a number of reasons (e.g. underlying health conditions, not eligible or unable to be vaccinated, personal choice, etc.),” the statement said. “In consideration of these individuals who continue wearing masks, schools will continue to plan for appropriate mask breaks.”

The announcement also came with a graphic above it reminding readers that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that those not vaccinated against COVID-19 should still wear masks. The written part of the announcement alluded to “guidance from health partners” but did not specifically mention the CDC’s view of masks.

Gwinnett’s announcement illustrates the difficult dance facing school districts: how to manage mask use, which has become a political lightning rod. Gwinnett County’s last school board meeting, for example, was disrupted by anti-mask protesters.

Did Kemp Really Ban School Mask Mandates?

Meanwhile, Gov. Brian Kemp’s latest COVID-19 executive order, perceived by many to ban school mask mandates outright, actually only withdraws state support for mandating masks.

Specifically, it says: “The Executive Order … is limited in the scope of its powers so that it does not include the authority for local school districts to rely on the Public Health State of Emergency as a basis for requiring students or Workers to wear a face covering while present on school district campuses.”

In other words, school districts are still free to mandate masks — they just can’t expect Georgia’s backing to do so.

When Kemp first announced his intention on Fox News to ban school mask mandates, one legal scholar opined that he didn’t have the power to do it.

“The governor doesn’t have the inherent authority to dictate local school policies unilaterally,” said Anthony Kreis, a Georgia State University law professor, to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I am unaware of any statute that would empower him to usurp power delegated to school authorities.”

That would leave the decision to mask or not up to individual school districts. Cobb County made a similar call earlier this week, as did Fulton County last week.

RELATED:

• Cobb County Schools Make Masks Optional, Vaccinated Or Not
• Anti-Maskers Disrupt, Delay Gwinnett County School Board Meeting
• Gwinnett Schools Will Mandate Masks To Slow Spread Of Coronavirus