Mask Mandate To Be Discussed By Alexandria School Board Amid Opt-Out Legislation

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As state legislation signed Wednesday will provide a student opt-out for school mask mandates, the Alexandria School Board will bring back discussion to the current mask mandate.

The state legislation providing an option for parents to opt out of their student wearing a mask in school will take effect March 1. The bill had an original effective date of July 1, but an emergency clause to implement it earlier was requested by Gov. Glenn Youngkin and passed by the General Assembly.

Alexandria City Public Schools current has a mask mandate in place in its buildings and school buses. A special called meeting is planned for Thursday, Feb. 24 to discuss the mask requirement at ACPS.

"The staff has been actively planning for when masks will become optional," ACPS said in a statement. "Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students and staff in our school division."

SEE ALSO: VA Student Mask Mandates To End March 1 After Youngkin Signs Bill

The School Board previously reaffirmed the ACPS mask mandate when Youngkin issued an executive order seeking a mask opt-out option. ACPS was one of seven school districts joining a lawsuit challenging Youngkin's executive order.

In Alexandria, COVID-19 cases have fallen since the omicron peak in early January, but the city remains under high transmission with a case rate of 202.2 weekly cases per 100,000 people.