In response to an executive order issued by Virginia’s new governor, the diocesan Office of Catholic Schools issued guidance Jan. 20 to pastors and school leaders regarding how they should approach mask-wearing in the classroom.
Most children currently are required to wear masks at schools in Northern Virginia, including diocesan K-12 schools, except during lunch and in other limited circumstances. Upon his inauguration Jan. 15, Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 2. According to the order, “The parents of any child enrolled in an elementary or secondary school or a school based early childcare and educational program may elect for their children not to be subject to any mask mandate in effect at the child’s school or educational program.” The directive takes effect Jan. 24.
“The health and safety of all students and staff in our schools, while maintaining in-person instruction, remains our top priority,” the diocese said in its guidance. “Throughout the pandemic, our Catholic schools have been directed to follow state and local public health directives. Where those have been in conflict, the state requirement has primacy. Therefore, Diocesan direction to our schools is to continue following local public health guidance, without however, violating the rights of parents as described in Executive Order 2.”
The guidance also directed principals and heads of school to issue updated, school-specific guidance to school staff and the parents of students regarding its mask policy. It went on to encourage Arlington diocese schools to continue using a range of mitigation strategies, including following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for isolation of those who contract COVID-19 and quarantining for those who come in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
“We remain fully committed to partnering with parents to ensure their children receive a well-rounded Catholic education, fostering spiritual, intellectual, and social growth, in a safe environment,” the diocese said.
The reaction from public schools in Northern Virginia to the governor’s executive order has varied. The commonwealth’s largest school districts closest to Washington, such as Fairfax and Arlington counties, vowed to retain mask mandates, while others such as Culpeper, Fauquier and Spotsylvania counties announced plans to follow the governor’s order. Several parents in the Chesapeake Public School district filed a lawsuit Jan. 18 in an effort to block the change, arguing that it violates existing state law. However, the law at issue applies only to public schools, so it is unclear whether the outcome of the litigation is likely to have any effect on Catholic schools, according to diocesan officials.
Schweers can be reached at [email protected].
