Masks No Longer Required In Douglas County School District

LITTLETON, CO — The Douglas County School District Board of Education voted late Tuesday night to end its universal mask requirement and replace it with a new resolution, which allows parents to decide whether their children wear masks. The board voted 4-3 to end the requirement.

Masks still will be required in some situations in support of those who have "unique conditions and circumstances," the resolution reads.

The new resolution also prohibits the district from implementing a vaccine mandate.

Parents, students and community members voiced their concerns about the mask mandate during a public comment session at the special meeting Tuesday evening.

Proponents of the mask mandate said it protects vulnerable, immunocompromised students, and that the mandate would help keep children in school. Those who opposed the mandate said it's impacting athletics and students' ability to learn.

The Douglas County School District launched a lawsuit in October against the Douglas County Board of Health after the board implemented an order that allowed parents to opt out of their children's mask mandate without a doctor's note. The school district said the new mask rules put medically at-risk students in danger.

The board of health then issued a temporary restraining order to block enforcement of the order, and changed it to exempt the school district. A federal judge then dismissed the lawsuit.