Letter from the Superintendent - Facemasks

Letter from the Superintendent - Facemasks
Posted on 05/12/2021

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued Executive Order 2021-23 on May 11, 2021, directing the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to take appropriate action to allow parents and other authorized individuals to opt-out of face covering. Because of this executive order, DHEC has developed a standardized form to provide parental consent for a student in any public school in the State of South Carolina to opt-out.  

DHEC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have provided guidance stating that the wearing of face coverings slows the spread of COVID-19. Failure to wear a face-covering may subject a student to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 and spreading COVID-19 to others.

On Wednesday, May 12, 2021, State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman rescinded the state face-covering policy for public schools, except on school bus transportation, which the federal government currently requires.”

The health and safety of our faculty and staff are critical to us in FSD3. Therefore, we encourage all families to continue to observe the guidelines we currently have in place to ensure all are involved. However, to provide parents the opportunity to opt-out as mandated in the executive order, the forms for opt-out will be available at each school (DHEC Opt Out Form). In order to be valid, the form must be completed without change by the parent or guardian (or student, if age 18 or older).

Parents must go to the school to complete the form and agree to the terms on the form. Without a signed opt-out form on file, the protocols for the wearing of face masks inside FSD3 facilities remain unchanged.  DHEC also recommends staff and others in schools continue to wear masks through the end of the current school year.  

Because we can no longer maintain recommended protocols, we will allow parents to opt for their students to work from home for the remainder of this year after state testing, if they submit a request to the principal in writing (email or hard copy) by Monday, May 17. During testing, the schools will encourage social distancing and other safety protocols.  Schools will record attendance for those students as long as work is completed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.

 

Thank you,

Laura Hickson, Ed. D

FSD3 Superintendent