ASHEBORO — Following a last-minute plea from Gov. Roy Cooper, the Asheboro City School Board voted Thursday to require all students within the school system to wear masks as the 2021-22 school year opens.
The divided board voted 6-3 to require masks. Board members Ryan Patton, Archie Priest, and Gidget Kidd voted to make mask wearing optional.
In a letter to the board dated August 12, 2021, signed by Gov. Roy Cooper, DHHS Sec. Mandy Cohen, and State Health Director Betsey Tilson, state officials urged the board to mandate masks wearing for all students and teachers, regardless of vaccine status.
Asheboro City Schools is the last system in Randolph County to make a decision on masks and the only system that will require them. Randolph County Schools and Uwharrie Charter previously voted to allow parents to make the decision on mask wearing by students and made masks options for teachers.
Also this week, the North State Journal reported State Superintendent Catherine Truitt is not requiring employees of the Department of Public Instruction to receive the vaccine.
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This article was updated to correct the vote was 6-3
