By Theresa O’Connor

After much discussion of COVID-19 mask mandates and the state law that governs them, Tempe Prep will move forward with its current policy: enforcing a mask mandate while indoors. 

TPA board members met on Sept. 23 to discuss the Arizona law that would ban mask mandates in public and charter schools, which was to go into effect Sept. 29. Members passed a motion: while Tempe Prep cannot enforce a mandate, its members said, an expectation is in place for members of the community to wear a mask. If parents and children decide to not wear a mask, an opt-out form must be signed by both the parent and child. 

But due to a judge’s recent ruling in opposition to this law, TPA’s current mask policy will remain in effect. 

Board member Dr. Ben Hurlbut says, “The purpose of requiring masking is to ensure that if you know a student were to inadvertently come to school with COVID, that it significantly reduces the possibility, reduces the risk that other students would be affected. … And that’s been our intention all along. … It is better for the community to be protected, and it needs to be a united front in order to protect the community. But again, the main thing that I would say is … consistently the aim of the board has been to keep kids in school, in as normal school experience as possible. And masks are an unfortunate measure that we’ve needed in order to make that possible. And I think last year proved them to be actually pretty darn effective in that regard.” 

During the meeting, a few parents expressed concern over the mask requirement. Some concerns were raised regarding claims that masks are harmful to children, while another parent indicated that a mask mandate may lead to parents and their children leaving the school. The board members took these viewpoints into consideration and also accounted for the responses of staff with respect to the masking policy: some faculty were concerned with not having a mask requirement but were understanding because of the board’s tough position. The board, in its previous and present decisions, has followed CDC guidelines, the TPA COVID-19 task force and numerous experts in the field.  

The next board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 20.