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Mask mandate removed in Mathews schools

By a 3-2 margin, the Mathews County School Board approved a resolution doing away with the division’s mask mandate for students, teachers and other school employees, in accordance with Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Jan. 15 executive order.

The decision came at the end of a special meeting late Tuesday afternoon to consider the implications of the change. A large contingent of community members in support of removing the mandate—some bearing signs urging the board to put the choice of masking back into the hands of students and their parents—filled the Mathews High School media center.

School board members grappled with the decision, with some seeking to put it off until the Feb. 15 regular meeting. A motion to that effect, made by Lorraine Forrest and seconded by Desmond Smith, failed by a 2-3 vote. Following that, the original motion to approve the resolution was taken up and that passed, 3-2, with school board chairman Linda Hodges casting the final, deciding vote. Bobby Dobson and Jo...

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