The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In-person teaching still goal in Clayton
North Fulton cities have yet to mandate face coverings. South Fulton, Clayton, Fayette and Henry can get the latest updates on Twitter: @ajcsouthside
Less than a week after East Point became the first city in Fulton County to require wearing masks in commercial spaces, most county residents were under similar order.
College Park, Union City and South Fulton on Friday joined East Point in defying Gov. Brian Kemp’s order in April blocking local governments from creating laws stricter that what he’s done at the state level. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Fairburn Mayor Elizabeth Carr-Hurt signed their versions of the law on Wednesday.
Kemp’s spokeswoman called the local laws “unenforceable” but didn’t threaten a lawsuit to stop them.
That means nearly 70% of Fulton’s 1 million residents are under an order Kemp’s office considers “unenforce- able” Atlanta accounts for 500,000 of those 700,000 residents — though the laws apply to visitors and resi
Sheriff’s Deputy Rachel Grayson adjusts the angle on a device that scans people’s temperature at the entrance to the county jail. The device was installed to speed the screening of people as they enter the lockup.
dents alike.
None of the North Fulton cities meeting this week plan on even discussing a mask law, according to agendas posted online.
Sandy S prings Mayor Rusty Paul said last week that he and City Council
members had debated man- dating masks and that he had something drafted, but there wasn’t consensus because some didn’t want to be at odds with Kemp.
As for the other cities in southern Fulton, the Hape- ville City Council said peo
ple were “strongly encour- aged” to wear masks but has no plan to require masks.
East Point Mayor Deana Holiday Ingraham said on July 6 that the cities of Chattahoochee Hills and Palmetto aren’t exploring mask laws.
The parameters of the
existing laws vary as to what age they apply to, and : some cities carry warnings before a fine. Fines could be $25 or $75.
Savannah, the first city in the state to create a law like this, is fining people $500 for not wearing masks.
Though most parents and staff have signaled a preference for virtual education in the 2020-2021 school year, Clayton County Superintendent Morcease Beasley said Monday he hopes students will eventually be able to have in-class instruction.
The district leader said having in-class instruction would track with expectations from Gov. Brian Kemp and President Trump.
“While we may start virtually, our goal is face-toface ASAP,” Beasley said in a tweet early Monday.
Beasley announced last week that the district was leaning toward a virtual-only school day when school begins in early August.
The Clayton Board of Education was scheduled to meet Monday to decide whether to open Aug. 3 as planned, or move that date back a week to give teachers and staff time to prepare.