Six Oklahoma City Public Schools employees are on paid administrative leave after they violated the district’s mask mandate by refusing to wear a face mask while on school property, KFOR reports.
“Today, six OKCPS employees were placed on paid Administrative Leave after refusing to comply with the district’s requirement that face coverings be worn while on school property,” the district said in a statement on Tuesday.
In May, Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed Senate Bill 658 into law which bans Oklahoma schools from implementing a mask mandate unless the governor declare a state of emergency.
Last week OKCPS Superintendent Sean McDaniel announced that the district would require students and staff to wear a face mask on school property. McDaniel said the new mandate does not violate the Senate bill because he was the one who enacted the policy, not the school board.
“I think I am actually upholding the law by taking this route because it is specific to school boards and I believe it also adds career tech boards,” McDaniel said.
Parents and guardians can opt their child out of wearing a mask if a religious exemption, health condition or personal reason is provided, McDaniel said.
The district is also giving employees a $1000 stipend if they can provide proof of vaccination before November 15.
Just 41 percent of Oklahoma’s population is fully vaccinated. 50 percent have received at least one dose.
