SOME E-TENN SCHOOLS PASS OPTIONAL MASK MANDATES

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — The Oak Ridge Board of Education on Monday voted to mandate masks for students and staff indoors at all Oak Ridge schools as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to rise.

Parents will still be able to opt their children out of the mandate per Governor Bill Lee’s executive order. Parents will need to contact school administration and fill out the appropriate forms to do so.

The news comes a few days after four Anderson County schools — Lake City Middle School, Norwood Middle School, Briceville Elementary School and Grand Oak Elementary Schools — chose to implement similar mandates.