Opinion: Timing of McMaster Edict to Schools Baffling

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer Opinion

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster needs a lesson in timing. 

No matter where one lands on the issue of wearing face masks as a measure to suppress COVID-19 cases, McMaster’s sudden decision to students in the state’s public schools to opt of wearing masks a few short weeks before the end of the school year is both silly and sown chaos and confusion without any real purpose.

Putting aside the fact that McMaster’s ruling flies in the face of recommendations by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Services and the Centers for Disease Control, one has to ask: “Why now?”  

The decision itself should come as little surprise. The governor’s latest move is another in a long string of mushy, weak responses to confronting the COVID-19 pandemic in our state. McMaster has consistently spoken out of both sides of mouth, refusing to implement a statewide mask ruling, even at the height of the pandemic, and instead offering silly platitudes calling for citizens to “be careful” and “stay safe” in his best Sen. Claghorn tones.  

But Tuesday’s ruling leaves school districts across the state scrambling to meet yet another pandemic-year administrative challenge for no reason beyond political posturing. Ordering all schools to return to full-time, in-person classes had already put additional pressure on school districts trying to finish out what maybe the most difficult year for educators in modern history. Now, as school districts are trying to close out the school year and planning for extended summer school offerings and estimating how many students will be last when school resumes in the fall, the governor creates another fine mess for no reason beyond grandstanding. 

Our teachers, principals and other school administrators deserve better. 

One school administrator told me the governor’s decision was a farce, since it would be almost impossible to tell which students in classrooms and walking the halls had a signed exemption release.

The new ruling also creates a new level of work for the overtaxed DHEC, who were charged with creating new forms allowing students to opt-out of wearing masks for the remainder of the school year. Again, DHEC continues to join with the CDC is recommending the continued use of face coverings, so it’s a big ask by the governor to ask for a form which ignores their suggestions.

Meanwhile, a federally instituted school bus mask mandate remains in place for all public schools, students and staff, statewide. This mandate includes activity/athletic buses. 

Anderson County school districts seem to be following roughly the same template following the governor’s decree. Students will be allowed to fill out the DHEC forms, adding another level of paperwork at each school at the worst possible time, while reiterating the safety suggestions of DHEC and the CDC. 

Teachers, staff and visitors to school are no longer required to wear masks. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Anderson County has reported almost 23,000 cases of COVID-19 and 519 deaths from the virus. DHEC has reported 108 cases in the county since May 1 and 18 deaths were listed in April (the last reporting period available) from the virus. DHEC still considers Anderson County a place of moderate risk. 

Meanwhile, the S.C. Department of Education sent a message to superintendents across the state, saying, in part, that the department finds: “no legal grounds by which the Governor can set aside a policy and regulatory directive issued by another constitutional officer or constitutional board whose power is not derived from the state of emergency nor the Executive Branch but by the South Carolina Constitution and Code of Laws. This power is reserved solely for the South Carolina General Assembly. The Governor thoroughly understands the rule of law and surely recognizes this but has been successful in his mission of circumventing public health guidance by inciting hysteria and sowing division in the waning days of the school year.” 

Our governor has chosen to essentially ignore the rule of law while adding additional duties to our already overwhelmed schools with only about two weeks left in the academic year. His tone deaf, ham-handed proclamation seems to serve no purpose other than an insatiable need for approval from his political base.

While we are hopeful that all signs, at least for now, point to a steady decline in the COVID-19 virus in South Carolina as well as hope for a better year ahead without the restrictions of the past year, why the governor chose this move at the end of a very long school year is simply baffling.