Photo Credit: Hamilton County Schools / YouTube
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Monday, November 8th, Interim Hamilton County School Superintendent Dr. Nakia Towns announced that masks are now optional for all students and staff.
“HCS prioritizes the health and wellness of our entire school community, and we continue to navigate our response to the pandemic with the goal to maintain safe learning environments in person and on campus,” Towns said.
Towns stated that following a peak of COVID cases in the Fall, the District is now seeing a rapid decline in cases, reporting that on November 4th, the 7-day average had dropped to only 41. She went on to say that the number of active cases was down to 60 as of Friday.
Towns stated that the District is “encouraged by vaccination trends in our community,” noting that 51% of Hamilton County residents are fully vaccinated, with 46% of 12 to 15-year-olds at least partially vaccinated.
She went on to state that 71% of the HCS staff have received at least one dose and made it a point to say, “As of this week, vaccinations are now approved for all school aged children, starting with 5-year-olds.”
Towns stated that the decision to make masks optional was made due to current local COVID-19 trends as well as the availability of the vaccine for all students.
She also made note that the decision reflects recent legislation that restricts districts from imposing mask mandates when COVID-19 cases are below the statutory guidance, which is true in Hamilton County at this time.
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“HCS continues to encourage parental discretion with regard to health decisions including the decision to wear masks. We will welcome all students and staff on our campuses with or without masks,” Towns said.
“We look forward to establishing a new normal post-pandemic and ensuring that all of our students, families and staff have a joyous and affirming experience as we head into the holiday season,” Dr. Towns concluded.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Directory for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
