Little Rock School District officials and school board members are considering a lawsuit to challenge the state law that bans mask mandates, which affects public school campuses.
Superintendent Mike Poore announced on Friday that he will ask the LRSD board to consider moving ahead with a lawsuit at a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Aug 4.
Poore said Friday that he isn’t confident the Arkansas General Assembly will move to amend the act, giving schools the flexibility to decide whether or not there should be masks. Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday that he would call a special session to consider just that.
Poore noted that an estimated 70 percent of district employees and 10 percent of eligible students have received COVID-19 vaccinations. The Little Rock district has introduced a $300 incentive for all employees vaccinated by October 1.
Act 1002, the act that prohibits mask mandates, doesn’t apply to private organizations, including private schools — many of which have already announced mask-wearing requirements for the coming school year.
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