As school districts wait for more clarity on policies for COVID going into the 2021-22 school year, Clinton Schools passed a mask-optional policy Tuesday night at a special meeting of the Board of Education.

Those in attendance that chose to address the Board spoke in overwhelming support of a mask-optional policy. Jenny Haycraft-Rudat (pictured right) offered her thoughts on the harms of the masks in schools. 

Jamie Holland (pictured left) offered thoughts on the quarantine restrictions that kept many students out multiple weeks out of the school year. She is imploring the Board to discontinue the quarantine of students.

Superintendent Curt Nettles recommended to the Board of Education they approve a mask-optional policy for all students and teachers. He emphasizes this is only the foundation of the back-to-school policy but believes it is a starting point and will ease the concerns of many.

While Nettles and the Board of Education would like to end quarantine measures, he would not commit to that Tuesday night citing the desire for more information and perhaps a better policy to move forward with but at the same time did not take the possibility off the table.

Board President Dan Matthews pointed to the flip-flop of policies in other parts of the country and committed to have as normal of a school year as possible. 

The Board unanimously approved the back-to-school plan with a mask-optional provision. At the adjournment of the meeting, perhaps the biggest crowd to a School Board meeting in over a decade offered the board a round of applause.