Update: Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, 3:07 p.m. CDT
Santa Fe South Public Charter School in Oklahoma City is implementing a mask mandate for all students and staff as of Thursday. The move is in direct violation of state law.
Senate Bill 658 - passed earlier this year - prohibits school districts from requiring masks without an emergency order from Gov. Kevin Stitt. He hasn’t issued one yet, and isn’t expected to. Despite that, Santa Fe South’s superintendent Chris Brewster is putting a mask mandate in place.
This comes as Tulsa Public Schools holds a meeting late this afternoon to discuss possible litigation over the new law.
In Texas, some districts are rebuffing their governor’s order against mask mandates. Oklahoma is different, in that our ban has the force of law.
It is unclear at this time what the implications of breaking this law in Oklahoma will be for Santa Fe South, but Brewster’s decision will be the first test.
Original story: Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, 11:04 a.m. CDT
Some district superintendents in Texas have announced they will defy their governor’s executive order and require masks in their classrooms.
In the past week, superintendents of Dallas and Austin public schools have announced they will require masks on campus, despite Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order banning the practice. Those who don't adhere can incur fines up to $1,000.
Oklahoma took stronger action than Texas in banning mask mandates in schools, passing Senate Bill 658 this spring. It statutorily bans the mandates without an emergency declaration from the governor.
During a briefing with the state’s medical community on Tuesday afternoon, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said officials should prioritize vaccination efforts. She said there is support for local officials who are urging masks, but not necessarily for requiring them.
"First of all, we do have to abide by the law, so we're doing everything we can right now to support the districts that are framing this as an expectation of the students and staff," she said.
Gov. Kevin Stitt has indicated no intention to declare such an order.
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