Mask optional schools

[Anonymous]

Carroll County decided last night that masks will be optional for students. Also, they do not have a virtual option this year. What does a reasonably responsible parent do in this situation, send kids with a mask and hope for the best?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carroll County decided last night that masks will be optional for students. Also, they do not have a virtual option this year. What does a reasonably responsible parent do in this situation, send kids with a mask and hope for the best?

Yes? I mean, you can homeschool?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carroll County decided last night that masks will be optional for students. Also, they do not have a virtual option this year. What does a reasonably responsible parent do in this situation, send kids with a mask and hope for the best?

Yes? I mean, you can homeschool?

NP here-my son’s a senior scheduled to take AP and honors courses that I cannot home school. He’s also on immunosuppressant medication. It’s truly a nightmare. Not only will masks be optional, there will be no social distancing or other COVID precautions taken aside from classroom air purifiers. My son will probably have to eat lunch in his car.

Given that schools accommodate students with a wide range of emotional and intellectual abilities, I’m beyond furious that we have little choice than to send him to school to be a sitting duck.

[Anonymous]

You send official letters to all the board of education, the superintendant, and your elected representatives, and you explain that this is not legal.

It is not legal because your child has a disability that puts him at unacceptable risk in this situation, and they are legally obliged to provide him with an education. You suggest that the public school either come up with a mask mandate, provide your child with a virtual option, or pay for a private virtual school. There is precedent for this. For example, MCPS is forced by law to pay for private schooling for a sliver of its special needs students who cannot be accommodated in public school (the barrier is very high and it takes years, of course).

Now this is just for the principle of the thing. You also contact Laurel Springs Academy and pay $14K for their virtual school this year, and expect that it will never be reimbursed.

[Anonymous]

So Carroll County will say you can apply for the home/ hospitalization option for instruction. That is really their only option at this point. I have two under 12 so vaccination isnt even an option. Of course, kids need to wear masks on the bus because of a federal mandate but when they get to school, they can take them off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carroll County decided last night that masks will be optional for students. Also, they do not have a virtual option this year. What does a reasonably responsible parent do in this situation, send kids with a mask and hope for the best?

Yes? I mean, you can homeschool?

NP here-my son’s a senior scheduled to take AP and honors courses that I cannot home school. He’s also on immunosuppressant medication. It’s truly a nightmare. Not only will masks be optional, there will be no social distancing or other COVID precautions taken aside from classroom air purifiers. My son will probably have to eat lunch in his car.

Given that schools accommodate students with a wide range of emotional and intellectual abilities, I’m beyond furious that we have little choice than to send him to school to be a sitting duck.

You an absolutely homeschool AP classes. There are online providers that will work well with you.

Come to the homeschool board, tell us what classes you need, and we will help you!

[Anonymous]

If you feel like you don’t have any options but sending your child I would consider purchasing kn94 or n95 masks for them. I’m so sorry that you are dealing with this. Masks just make sense. My best wishes to you on this difficult path. (Also you might want to consider a lawsuit if you can find other families interested in pressing the case.