By The FirstDespite Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Day One Executive Order making masking optional —eliminating mandates— some parents and school districts just can’t let go of the masks.
According to Richmond.com, “The Virginia Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a parental challenge of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order to prevent public schools from requiring students to wear face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
“The ruling comes three days after an Arlington County judge found that Youngkin did not have authority to supersede the judgment of local school boards in setting policy for reducing the threat of COVID-19 to students, teachers and other school employees.”
“Unlike the ruling by Arlington Judge Louise DiMatteo, the Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the executive order, only the legal method that a group of 13 parents in Chesapeake chose to challenge the governor’s order allowing parents to choose to send their children to school unmasked,” Richmond.com reports.
Attorney General Jason Miyares, speaking also on behalf of Youngkin, called the decision “a victory for Virginia families.”
Youngkin signed an Executive Order his first day in office, eliminating mask mandates for students in his push to have power back to the parents of Virginia:
“The parents of any child enrolled in an elementary or secondary school or a school based early childcare and educational program may elect for their children not to be subject to any mask mandate in effect at the child’s school or educational program,” Youngkin wrote.
The Governor shared the news on Twitter:
“We are pleased by the dismissal. We will continue to protect the rights of parents to make decisions regarding their child’s health, education, upbringing, and care.”
