Henrico Education Association: ‘We demand a mask requirement’

The Henrico Education Association Thursday denounced the Henrico County Public Schools’ new mask policy for the 2021-2022 school year, which makes mask-wearing optional in schools.

“If you have read the new CDC guidelines side-by-side with the new HCPS mask policy, you would agree that the latter is woefully inadequate,” wrote Patrick Miller, president of the HEA. “The health and safety of our members, colleagues, students, and families are neither ‘recommended’ nor ‘optional.’”

On Tuesday, HCPS announced its new policy, which clashes with state and federal guidance.

The Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Health released guidance last earlier this month that “strongly recommends” that school districts enforce mask mandates for students and staff at elementary schools, regardless of vaccination status, until vaccination is available for children under 12 years old.

On Tuesday, the CDC recommended that everyone in “substantial” and “high” transmission localities – even those who are fully vaccinated – wear masks indoors. The transmission risk in Henrico is considered “substantial,” according to the CDC.

The announcement of the new HCPS mask policy came just hours after the new CDC guidance.

“...We do not recommend — we demand — a mask requirement for pre-k-12 students and staff regardless of age or vaccination status if we are to continue mitigating the spread of a deadly virus in our community, district and state,” Miller wrote on behalf of the HEA, which is an affiliate of the Virginia Education Association.

Richmond Public Schools announced its universal masking policy last week.

And on Wednesday, the state's largest school system – Fairfax County Public Schools – announced a policy that requires students and staff to wear masks inside of school buildings while students are present regardless of vaccination status.

On Thursday, Gov. Ralph Northam encouraged Virginians to wear masks in certain indoor settings but stopped short of mandating masks.

"All Virginians should consider wearing a mask in public indoor settings where there is increased risk of COVID-19 transmission, as the new CDC guidance recommends," he wrote. "This is not a requirement, but a recommendation."

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Anna Bryson is the Henrico Citizen’s education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar.