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Gov. Lee signs new executive order allowing parents to opt kids out of school mask mandates
STATE GAZETTE
On Monday afternoon, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued a new executive order allowing parents and guardians the ability to opt their children out of local school mask mandates.
The governor announced the signing of Executive Order 84 Monday afternoon in a press conference.
“Right now, some of the greatest frustration is occurring in our K-12 schools, especially around the issue of mask mandates. While local decision making is important, individual decision making by a parent on issued regarding the health and well being of their child is the most important,” said Gov. Lee. “Districts will make the decision they believe are best for their schools, but parents will have the ultimate decision making for their individual child’s health and well being.”
Executive Order 84, states, “…a student’s parent or guardian shall have the right to opt out of any order or requirement for a student in kindergarten through twelfth-grade to wear a facial covering at school, on a school bus, or at school functions, by affirmatively notifying in writing the local education agency or personnel at the student’s school.
“Any law, order, rule, or regulation that would otherwise limit the enforceability of this Order is hereby suspended, pursuant to Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 58-2-107.”
On Twitter, Gov. Lee stated in a post, “No one cares more about the health & well-being of a child than a parent. I am signing an EO today that allows parents to opt their children out of a school mask mandate if either a school board or health board enacts one over a district.”
To view Executive Order 84 in full, visit, https://publications.tnsosfiles.com/pub/execorders/exec-orders-lee84.pdf.