AVERY COUNTY, N.C. — The Avery County Board of Education met Tuesday, Oct. 12 to discuss the district's mask policy, which at that point masks for all students from third grade through 12th grade.
Last month, the board voted 3-2 in favor of expanding the mask mandate to include those students. The previous policy only required masks for adults indoors. North Carolina law requires school districts to vote on mask requirements once a month.
Now, after the latest meeting, masks are once again optional across the district. The new optional policy takes effect on Wednesday, Oct. 13.
Most districts in the Charlotte area now have mask requirements in place, as do some private academies and charter schools. Lincoln and Union counties have kept masks optional for students, leading to a lawsuit from pro-mask parents last month. A judge denied their request to end the optional mask policy in Lincoln County schools.
WCNC Charlotte will have updates from Tuesday's meeting on air and online. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app.
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