Bill aims to give parents ‘opt-outs’ over school mask mandates

ATLANTA — A Gwinnett County lawmaker wants school districts to give parents “opt-outs” if they ever implement mask mandates again.

It’s something Georgia’s largest teachers’ association thinks is a bad idea.

Critics say what’s the point of a mask mandate if every other parent chooses an opt-out.

But that bill passed out of a house committee on Monday.

Holly Terei joined a group of Gwinnett County mothers at a committee hearing on the bill that wouldn’t prevent school districts from implementing mask mandates, but would require them to give parents “opt-outs” – something critics insist would defeat the purpose of a mask mandate.

“We believe that masking our children should be option,” Terei said. “We’re big advocates for choice. Parents’ role in the school system is very important. Our rights do not end when we drop our children off at school.”

The Georgia Association of Educators president Lisa Morgan was there too. She represents thousands of teachers across the state.

She told Channel 2′s Richard Elliot that parents need to look beyond their children and at the bigger picture.

“They are considering their child. Parents think about ‘my child.’ Educators we think about children,” Morgan said.

Atlanta Democratic State Sen. Elena Parent worries the bill would tie the hands of school districts trying to protect students.

“To tie the hands of local school districts and say that tools cannot be uniformly employed just flies in the face of science and frankly common sense,” Parent said.

Other critics worry it limits the local control of districts.

Buford State Sen. Clint Dixon is sponsoring the bill. He disagrees.

“This is the epicenter of local control, giving control to the parents. It is the ultimate local control in my opinion,” Dixon said.

That bill could go to the floor of the House for a vote this week.

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