MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WTVF) — In a year full of change Wilson County students are facing yet another one.
“So having her have to wear a mask is going to be very difficult I believe,” said McKenzie Bowman, the parent of a West Elementary School student.
Kindergarten through fifth-grade students are now required to wear face coverings in school.
Another parent, Amelia Platte, said, “I agree with it. If we can keep her in school that’d be great, I’ll do anything it takes.”
West Elementary School principal Chris Plummer said the goal is simply to keep kids in the classroom. “For us, we have not had to go fully remote due to a rise in COVID cases for our school in particular. We have gotten close a few times.”
They’ll be joining sixth through twelfth-grade students who’ve been required to wear face coverings since the beginning of the year.
“We had roughly I’d say anywhere between 50 to 55% of our students here at West Elementary... would wear their masks up to this point,” said Plummer. But there are moments when students can take off their face coverings like during lunch, recess, or P.E. class.
However, the move doesn't come without some push-back.
“So there are some individuals that are parents that are a little more hesitant for their child to wear a mask- they just want them to be a kid and I understand that,” said Plummer.
Students with certain medical needs may also be exempt.
“They’re very understanding as far as, you know, they want to be in school too and if this is one next step that we need to do in order to stay in school traditionally then so be it,” said Plummer.
School board members will reconvene on January 11 to re-evaluate the mandate.
