Hulbert Public Schools To Require Masks For All Students, Adults On School Grounds

The Hulbert Public Schools Board of Education has voted to require masks for all students and adults on school grounds.

The Hulbert school district is the first public school district in Green Country to require masks, even if a person is fully vaccinated, which goes against state law. 

According to a statement issued by the district, masks will be required for every adult and student regardless of vaccination status.

There is an exception for medical issues and for eating. There is also an option for virtual learning for families who don't want to wear a mask. 

“No one likes to wear a mask. At the same time it becomes really no question of whether or not to do it when peoples lives are at stake,” said Superintendent Jolyn Choate.

In a letter to parents, the district said it’s had seven positive cases and 154 students in quarantine since the start of school school last Thursday, causing the school to go to distance learning until Friday of the following week. 

The district said than less than half of the student body is unvaccinated. One high school student thinks a mask mandate is the right move. 

“I think those are the right steps especially keeping everybody safe. I think that’s the main deal with us and I’m glad the superintendent really took full force in this and I’m very proud of her actually for doing so,” the student told News on 6. 

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., shared his support for the mandate. He gave Hulbert Public Schools over 16,000 masks Thursday from the PPE facility and said the tribe will do the same for any school in Green Country who wants to impose a mask mandate as well. 

“If you peel the politics away from it, the science is clear. It’s a proven way to protect people from this dangerous variant, and honestly if you want to make sure that there’s in in person instruction, masks are essential,” said Chief Hoskin Jr. 

Choate said despite mixed responses from parents, she stands by her and the board’s decision. 

“We will take the good with the bad, and will move forward hoping to keep all of our kiddos in person learning,” Choate added. 

Governor Kevin Stitt issued a statement in response to Hulbert's requirement:

“It is disappointing that one school district has chosen to openly violate a state law that was supported by 80 percent of the Legislature. The goal of SB658 was to ensure every student in Oklahoma could go to school in person and parents retained the fundamental right to make health care decisions for their children. To be clear, no parent is banned from sending their child to school with a mask and no school may mandate masks or vaccines. I will always stand up for parents’ right to decide what is best for their child,” said Governor Stitt.

Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor also gave a statement regarding the district's decision:

“We are vigorously defending SB658 in court because it is plainly constitutional and helps protect the choices of students and parents. Under the new law, public school boards cannot implement a mask mandate, unless certain conditions are met, including that the school district be in an area under a current state of emergency declared by the Governor. Under our constitution, the Legislature gets to set the policy of the state—especially on controversial issues like this—and schools should not be actively trying to undermine our constitutional structure of government by violating duly-enacted state law,” said Attorney General O’Connor.

For more information on the announcement or to read the full statement from Hulbert Public Schools, Click Here.