Dr. Scott Brabrand, superintendent of FCPS, said on Nov. 23 during a visit to RCMS, that even if the governor elect takes away the mask mandate, FCPS may continue to require masks.

“We’ve been following CDC guidance,” Dr. Brabrand said.

The CDC suggests that students wear masks during school, and on the bus. As of right now, a mask mandate is in order at all schools in Virginia, but in January, the mask mandate may change, as that is when Glenn Youngkin takes office as the Virginia governor.

“I have a meeting with Youngkin in early January, and we plan to talk about masks,” Dr. Brabrand said.

If the mask mandate is relaxed, students still have the option to wear masks.

Although the mandate may be relaxed, it is still ongoing at the moment. In a rare occasion, some students and staff members have refused to wear masks.

“Students refusing to wear masks hasn’t been a big issue, they’ve gotten used to them,” Dr. Brabrand said.

All staff members have been required to either get vaccinated, or get tested weekly for Covid as of Nov. 1.

“Around 97 percent of our staff members have gotten the vaccine,” he said.

Students and staff have adapted to mask wearing, and it’s become a part of our lifestyle.

“I’m so proud of you all,” he said.

As he and Mr. Gordon Stokes, principal of RCMS, walked into trailer 3 to visit the journalism class, all eyes were on the superintendent. He walked past the pairs of desks, got to the front of the room and told the students about things they were doing to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. As some students scribbled down quotes and other notes, the questions started — mostly about coronavirus, but some about Schoology.

“We wanted a go to system that all teachers could use.”

As he spoke, students wrote furiously, collecting information.

Dr. Brabrand told the students that Joe Biden, president of the United States, was trying to get a law passed where vaccinations would be required for all employees in any workplace with more than 100 employees, including FCPS. 

He said, “I can’t require vaccination, only the state can do it.”

He said it would probably end up going to the Supreme Court.

“Life and liberty are conflicting,” he said, “and that’s when people start to get mad.”