Just wrote the school board for clarification. Nothing said here in his message.

This is all really dumb. Catholic schools have already dropped mask mandates and most kids in those schools are still wearing masks. From what I can tell, just a couple kids per class are opting out. I hope this means they are dropping their lawsuits.

Anonymous wrote:I called FCPS. The woman made it very clear that the email means children are to remain masked until the School Board tells us they can unmask sometime in the future.

March 1 is the date. Regardless of what the school board does, there will be unmasked children showing up. The law actually bars disciplinary action against students who opt out, so the Board will be putting principals in impossible positions if they don't come up with guidance before then.

It means they are going to sue. And for now, stay masked.

I thought the letter was fine.

I called FCPS. The woman made it very clear that the email means children are to remain masked until the School Board tells us they can unmask sometime in the future.

You guys are making too much out of this. In short, FCPS policy is that students and staff should remain masked for the time being (until transmission drops to specified metric or the CDC revises it’s guidance). But, FCPS recognizes that parents may opt out per SB 739.

I read this to say exactly what I expected they would say. They have their rules tied to community transmission and health guidance and they know this law allows parents to opt out of their rules.

I am confused by the “update.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nowhere did they say masking will be optional March 1. I read this as they are preparing a lawsuit.

See, I read it as the opposite, that they recognize the law allows parents to opt out and they will not fight that.

The sentences are very disjointed. I think you can read them however you want vis-a-vis the legal obligations. I read it as 1) this is the law effective March 1 and 2) with have a legal obligation with respect to health and safety. To me that means they are suing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nowhere did they say masking will be optional March 1. I read this as they are preparing a lawsuit.

See, I read it as the opposite, that they recognize the law allows parents to opt out and they will not fight that.

Right but they will guilt your kids into masking.

Anonymous wrote:Nowhere did they say masking will be optional March 1. I read this as they are preparing a lawsuit.

See, I read it as the opposite, that they recognize the law allows parents to opt out and they will not fight that.

Nowhere did they say masking will be optional March 1. I read this as they are preparing a lawsuit.

So does this mean FCPS will/can require masking until the transmission rate drops? Or are we hoping that coincides with March 1? Love the call for kindness at the end.

February 18, 2022

Dear FCPS Families and Staff,

On Wednesday, the Virginia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 739, which allows parents to opt their children out of mask-wearing effective March 1. We recognize our legal obligations and will maintain our commitment to the health and safety of our students and staff.

Staff has already been planning our roll back of layered prevention strategies in line with our plan. We are hopeful that community transmission will continue to decrease as it has done this week. We anticipate that the CDC may update public health guidance early next week. We will share updates as we receive them.

Please be aware that we are currently still in high transmission and all of our layered prevention strategies, including universal masking, remain in place.

We ask everyone to do their part to keep our schools safe places to learn and to respect our educators and staff who are doing everything possible to keep our schools open and safe. Please monitor for symptoms and stay home when sick. Practice good hygiene, including covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands frequently. We encourage vaccination for all eligible children and adults as the best way to prevent serious illness and reduce absences from in-person learning.

We also ask everyone to do their part to keep our schools positive and uplifting places to learn. As we finish this school year working our way through what is hopefully the late stages of the pandemic, let’s do so with respect, kindness, and support for all.

Thank you,

Scott S. Brabrand

Superintendent

Fairfax County Public Schools