BLADEN COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – The Bladen County Board of Education voted to put masks back in place in schools, effective immediately.
The vote passed 5-4 in favor of reinstating the mask mandate; there was no discussion before or after the vote.
Monday morning, two Bladen County high schools moved to remote learning after 23 staff members tested positive in schools throughout the county and 16 staff members have been exposed. According to the Superintendent, 86 students tested positive for COVID-19.
The move to virtual learning by two schools in the district has some parents worried that remote learning could continue.
“I don’t want her to have to come home. She wants to physically be in school,” said Bladen County school parent Tobisha Easter. “It was very hard on her being home for a year and a half. It was really hard on her. Kids need socialization. There’s a lot of learning and developing that comes from interacting with other kids their age, interacting with teachers. Not having that sets them back.”
The board met on Monday afternoon to vote on their mask mandate in schools, as required by the law.
Bladen County schools have been mask optional since their November meeting, where they voted to drop the mandate in a close 5-4 vote.
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