Cobb Reporter

Effective on Tuesday, masking will be optional for students attending the Decatur and Atlanta school districts.

Both school districts have lifted their mask mandates in light of new guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the newly released guidelines, most healthy Americans are safe to remove their masks. Both Fulton and DeKalb counties are listed as low-risk for COVID-19 based on those guidelines. 

The new policy states that masks are optional for students, staff, vendors, and visitors, alike. While masking is optional, Decatur still strongly recommends them for students and staff.

"While this decision will be celebrated by many of our families, we acknowledge that it is concerning to many others," City Schools of Decatur Superintendent Maggie Fehrman said in a letter to parents. "I want to be clear: families and students will be supported in their masking decisions and bullying or harassment will not be tolerated. Families, please talk about this with your children and stress the importance of respecting the personal choice of others. I will also continue to wear a mask at all times when visiting schools."

These decisions come amidst debate surrounding Senate Bill 514, which was passed by the Senate Education and Youth Committee in a 7-5 vote. The bill would allow parents to opt their children out of school mask mandates. Bill 514, which is now being debated in the full Senate, is supported by Governor Brian Kemp.

DeKalb County School District and Clayton School District still have mask mandates in place, though officials are reviewing their policies and could make an announcement as early as later in the week.