Governor Kate Brown has issued a letter to Oregon superintendents, school board members, and education leaders, calling on them to enforce mask mandates for school children around the state.

“Throughout this pandemic, my north star for decisions about our schools has been to do what is best for our students. We know that students’ mental, physical, behavioral, social, and emotional health is best served when they can be in schools for full-time, in-person instruction,” said Governor Brown. “The Delta variant puts this goal at risk. It puts our children’s health and lives at risk. But, by again taking simple and effective precautions, we can still return our children to classrooms full-time this fall.”

The governor issued the letter in response to statements and actions from local school leaders indicating they would ignore state law.

Several school boards have passed or are considering resolutions opposing Oregon’s K-12 indoor mask requirements.

In one school district, a superintendent encouraged parents to make claims on behalf of their children by requesting mask exemptions under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Governor Brown continued: “Because that’s the thing about masks: they don’t just protect you, they protect everyone around you. Wearing a mask is an act of kindness. By wearing masks, we are teaching our children that they can protect each other in the classroom. That we can all work together to keep each other safe. When I visited classrooms this spring, I saw children who were overjoyed to be with their friends and teachers again."

Those children's smiles could not be seen by the Governor, as they were required to be in masks.

“I have heard much about personal freedom when it comes to masks in school board meetings and on social media. Without the universal wearing of masks in our schools, the Delta variant will spread.”

As with Oregon's previous K-12 mask requirements, the Governor claims that the current indoor mask requirement can be enforced by Oregon OSHA under state law.


--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-08-18 16:04:52

Last Update: 2021-08-18 16:21:21