Lifting of Masking Mandate an ‘Overreach’ into Local Authority, More State Guidance Necessary
February 18, 2022
February 18, 2022
VEA President James J. Fedderman made the following statement today regarding the lifting of masking mandates in Virginia’s public schools:
The Virginia General Assembly and Governor Youngkin have decided to allow children to attend public school without masks, effective March 1. This overreach into the authority of local school divisions, without guidance or regulatory assistance from the state, has created widespread confusion about how to implement these new requirements. VEA is calling on the Virginia Department of Education to provide local school divisions guidance on how best to transition from nearly two straight years of masking to a mask-optional environment in the safest possible manner.
VEA continues to strongly recommend educators wear masks while in the classroom for the health and safety of our children and communities.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, teachers in Virginia earn 67 cents on the dollar compared to other (non-teacher) college-educated workers. Virginia’s teacher wage penalty is the worst in the nation.
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