END THE MASK MANDATES

[LAURIE TEPER]

Board Members,
First, thank you for lifting the mandatory testing of unvaccinated athletes and making it optional. I applaud you for that decision.

Now, stop passing the buck and do the right thing by lifting the mask mandates. Someone needs to make this decision! You have heard from students and parents alike who are pleading with you to take the masks off. Please act in the best interest of the community you serve.

State by state across the country, Covid mandates are being lifted, including other counties in North Carolina. ORANGE COUNTY, DO THE RIGHT THING and follow suit.

Sincerely,
Laurie Teper
Orange County Resident
te...@sbcglobal.net

[Rani Dasi]

Ms. Teper, on behalf of the board, thank you for the message. 

The topic of mask protection will be discussed at the board meeting on March 3.

Rani Dasi

CHCCS BOE

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*All mail correspondence to and from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law, which may result in
monitoring and disclosure to third parties, including law enforcement.*

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All mail correspondence to and from the Chapel-Hill Carrboro
City Schools is subject to the North Carolina Public Records
Law, which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third
parties, including law enforcement.

All mail correspondence to and from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is subject to the North Carolina Public Records Law, which may result in monitoring and disclosure to third parties, including law enforcement.

[Carrie Doyle]

Dear Ms. Teper, 

The Orange County Schools Board of Education voted on February 21, 2022 to lift mask mandates for OCS K-12 students after 72 hours of local ordinances lifting.  The 3 day window allows for the needed time for district and school leaders to adequately communicate with all families and prepare for changes. 

Here is the language from the Superintendent's recommendation that was unanimously approved by the OCS Board:  

*Indoor masking in Orange County Schools will be required when designated by NC Governor Executive Orders, Legislative, or local Orange County Government mandates.  

*Recommendation:  Optional masking for all students will be implemented 72 hours after the local mask mandate expires for Orange County, NC.  

*Masking indoors would be optional for all staff when:  (1) the indoor mask mandate is lifted for Orange County, NC; (2) Orange County is not designated as being in High Community Transmission for COVID-19; and, (3) staff vaccination rates are above 90% 

*Masking indoors would be required for all students when Community Transmission for COVID-19 is High or when secondary in-school transmission cases exceed 2% of the student population for the school.  Masking would remain required for a minimum of five days.  

While the OCS Board has the authority to set tighter guidelines for students than local ordinances - for example, in January the OCS Board voted to reinstate outdoor masking rules for a short time, which went beyond the local indoor mask mandate - the OCS Board does not have the authority to undo local ordinances.  Therefore, the mask mandate for students cannot be lifted until the local ordinances - set by both the Town of Hillsborough and the Board of County Commissioners - are lifted by those governing bodies. Those local leaders announced on February 18th to leave that mandate in place.  https://www.hillsboroughnc.gov/news/news/2022/2/18/1198/orange-county-officials-leave-indoor-mask-mandate-in-place.html

Sincerely, 

Carrie

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Carrie Doyle

she/her/hers

Board Chair, Orange County Schools

Hillsborough, NC