The Kentucky Board of Education on Thursday unanimously approved a universal mask mandate for public schools that could last until May, though officials made it clear they don’t intend for the requirement to last that long.
The emergency regulation requires anyone inside a public K-12 school to wear a mask, with some exceptions.
Kentucky state law regarding emergency regulations means the regulation would last up to 270 days — which would end in early May and span nearly the entire school year.
However, KDE Commissioner Jason Glass said the mandate could end sooner, and it’s their full intent for it to do so.
Language in the regulation states that any changes to guidance from the CDC or Kentucky Department of Health regarding universal masking in schools will immediately trigger a special meeting allowing KDE to reconsider the regulation.
Glass said that the regulation could be rescinded within about two days after any changes in federal or state guidance.
“We believe that that clearly communicates the state board will closely monitor this issue and that it’s not the intent of the board to require masking any longer than what is necessary,” Glass said during a meeting of an advisory council of superintendents that was held before the state board passed the regulation.
The mandate from KDE is similar to the one already issued by Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. Earlier this week Beshear signed an executive order requiring universal masking in all private and public schools in the commonwealth.
Glass said KDE’s authority is separate from the governor’s, and the board “has an obligation to protect the health and safety of Kentucky students.” Beshear’s mandate also only lasts 30 days, though he said it can be renewed.
Private schools are only subject to Beshear’s mandate, though his ability to issue new executive orders is currently being challenged in court. If his mandate is struck down, private schools would be allowed to make their own decision on masking, while public schools would still be subject to the KDE regulation as long as it is in effect.
That advisory council recommended that KDE table the proposal and encouraged them to work with health officials to develop local metrics — similar to what was in place last year — that would allow local COVID-19 levels to factor into mask policies.
KDE still approved the regulation, though Glass said he’d still work with health agencies to work out those metrics for potential future use.
