Charleston Reporter

Ninth Circuit Court Judge Bentley Price ruled in favor of the Charleston County School District in their decision to uphold a mask mandate for students and teachers.

On Sept. 20, the Charleston County School District said a mandatory mask mandate would be put in place for all students, teachers, and staff inside schools. After a transitionary period, the school district’s policy required that students be sent home if they are not wearing masks, according to Live 5 News WCSC. 

“I am very pleased with the judge’s decision, and I view the ruling as an affirmation of our Board’s commitment to the health and safety of our students through enforcement of our facemask policy,” Rev. Dr. Eric Mack, Charleston County School Board of Trustees chairman, said, according to Live 5 News. 

Prior to the court ruling, a lawsuit argued that the South Carolina school mask mandate would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and centers around a proviso that would prohibit mask mandates at the expense of school funding, according to Live 5 News.

"No funds from the Fiscal Year 2022 State General Appropriations Budget will be used to enforce or announce the mask mandate, in accordance with SC Budget Proviso 1.108," highlighted a Sept. 28 tweet by state Rep. Leon Stavrinakis (D-Charleston), citing the Charleston County School District. 

On Sept. 2, the proviso was upheld by the state Supreme Court in a unanimous decision that followed a case against the city of Columbia, stating the “ultimate decision” to mask a child up to the parents, not the local government or school board, according to Count On News 2.