Paris, Tenn.–The Henry County Schools board of education has taken action to remove the district’s face mask policy following state legislative action to curb COVID restrictions in Tennessee.
The school board met Thursday night and Director of Schools Dr. Leah Watkins said the board action officially makes the policy null and void. “Our district already was in the white tier meaning we weren’t requiring a mask mandate anyway” due to steadily-decreasing COVID case numbers.
On Friday afternoon, Gov. Bill Lee signed into law a sweeping bill to curb COVID restrictions in the state, including prohibiting schools from mask mandates unless cases reach high levels. The law also limits the authority health agencies and businesses have with COVID restrictions.
“Once the governor signs it into law, we would no longer have the authority to initiate a policy,” Dr. Watkins said. “They’re expecting that there may be a federal appeal to the Governor’s order, however.”
In other business:
The board honored this year’s winners of the district’s Christmas card contest: Shiloh Fulton, Lakewood; Rylan Summers, Henry School; Emma Townsend, Harrelson School and Riley French, HCHS. The cards designed by the students will be sent out as the board’s Christmas cards.
The board was introduced to Student Ambassadors from the high school who attended the meeting.
Dr. Watkins announced that Jamie Kemp has been hired as the district’s new maintenance supervisor, replacing long-time supervisor John Akers, who resigned last month.
Photo: Student Ambassadors introduced. LonNita McDonald photo.