The Burke County Board of Education voted Monday to require face coverings indoors for all teachers, staff and students in K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. This vote rescinds the board’s previous decision that made face coverings optional in schools. The vote for universal face coverings indoors follows the most recent guidance of the CDC, the StrongSchools NC Toolkit and the NC State Board of Education.
The board also voted to give Burke County Public Schools administration the authority to implement universal masking indoors. School administration will also implement mitigation strategies and consult with the Burke County Public Schools Director of Nursing and the Burke County Health Director. The board asked Burke County Public Schools administration to report back to the board the health status of Burke County Public Schools students regarding COVID-19 at each regular monthly board meeting until further notice. Due to a current federal mandate, face coverings also are required on yellow school buses and activity buses.
Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY