MCPS Board of Education voted to end mask mandate in schools

The Montgomery County Board of Education has ended the mask mandate in schools, effective immediately. 

This decision follows the rescission of state and countywide mandates across the country, as well as the Center for Disease Prevention and Control’s reevaluation of mask mandates in school. According to the CDC, masks are recommended in areas with high risk of transmission. Montgomery County is low risk.

Weeks of debate led up to the decision and the atmosphere in the meeting reflected this tension. Several members of the crowd were disruptive, and security was forced to intervene.

In a statement to the Bethesda Beat on Friday, president of the county’s teacher union Jennifer Martin voiced her support of the rumored rescission of the mandate. “Given that the CDC, state, and county are relaxing masking protocols, the union agrees with the MCPS Board’s expected lifting of the mask mandate.” Martin said.

Masks will no longer be required indoors, as well as on buses.

More information is available here.