Blytheville doesn’t have mask mandate

According to interim Blytheville superintendent Jennifer Blankenship, the Blytheville School District’s mask mandate is no longer in effect.

“With the law that was passed by the state legislature this policy is no longer in effect and was not included in the policies approved on July 26th,” Blankenship wrote in an email to members of the Blytheville School Board on Thursday.

Blankenship was responding to board members Erin Carrington and Michelle Sims who both thought the mask policy was in place.

“I had requested of board members to attempt to meet earlier than Tuesday to address the mask issue because we start school Monday,” Carrington wrote. “I looked at our Covid policy from last year and it says that it is enforce until the board takes further action. I’ve attached the policy. I don’t know that we need to take further action in order to have the kids and staff masked on Monday. Just trying to help us have a safe start to the school year and communicate our expectations to the public so they are prepared. Please let me know your opinions.”

Sims added, “I agree that we are already covered with this. I believe that we had made the policy before the Legislatures met last year. It is already perfect and now up to the administrators to enforce it. Agree with Carlony (Lewis), no meeting is necessary.”

Earlier this week, the Blytheville School District posted a letter on its Facebook page that read, “Although masks or other face coverings are no longer mandated in Arkansas public schools, as prohibited by Act 1002 of 2021, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson reinstated the state’s general health emergency.” The letter says a special legislative session was called, but legislators did not amend the mask mandate. A Pulaski County judge’s ruling temporarily blocked Act 1002. “We will know more this week if we can put the mask requirements back into school policy,” the letter reads. “All other guidance will remain the same. We will provide updates as we get more information.”

As of press time, there had been no update.