CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – When the Clarksville-Montgomery County School Board imposed a mask mandate for students and employees, they made it clear that there would be an easy way to opt out, and the district actively emailed an opt-out form to everyone affected.

The result: Over 10,000 students and 1,400 employees have opted out of the mandate, designed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. That’s roughly 27% of the students and 28% of employees, according to CMCSS spokesman Anthony Johnson.

Those opt-outs have put school leaders in an awkward and confusing situation: Sorting out who is required to wear a mask and who isn’t, and determining how to enforce a mandate that doesn’t apply to everyone.

According to a message obtained by Clarksville Now, teachers in at least one school are being told not to bother monitoring student mask-wearing, since it’s almost impossible to enforce.

Johnson told Clarksville Now that district leaders are aware of the challenges in enforcing the policy.

“We must balance the priorities of maintaining the health and safety of our schools and continuing to educate and empower our students to reach their potential,” he said.

The district sent this guidance to school administrators:

  • Face coverings only need to be worn by students and employees who have not opted out when physical distancing (6 feet) cannot be maintained inside a CMCSS facility; the Board’s motion did not include transportation or visitors.
  • If a student has an opt out form on file, this will be indicated in PowerSchool. Students with an opt out form on file are not required to wear a face covering.
  • If a student does not have an opt out form on file, you may remind them to wear his/her face covering and can provide one upon request, if masks are available.
  • No student should be disciplined for not wearing a face covering. If a student without an opt out on file repeatedly forgets to bring/wear a face covering, you may contact his/her parent/guardian to let them know.

Opt-out figures by school

While almost a third of students have opted out, that percentage varies widely by school. According to figures provided by Johnson, the percentage ranges from a high of 54% at Montgomery Central Elementary to a low of 14% at Kenwood Middle:

  • Montgomery Central Elementary, 54%
  • Montgomery Central High, 48%
  • Clarksville High, 48%
  • Cumberland Heights Elementary, 48%
  • Montgomery Central Middle, 47%
  • East Montgomery Elementary, 43%
  • Carmel Elementary, 42%
  • Woodlawn Elementary, 41%
  • Sango Elementary, 40%
  • Richview Middle, 39%
  • Rossview High, 37%
  • Oakland Elementary, 34%
  • Rossview Middle, 31%
  • Rossview Elementary, 31%
  • Northwest High, 28%
  • Northeast Elementary, 27%
  • Glenellen Elementary, 26%
  • Pisgah Elementary, 26%
  • Barksdale Elementary, 25%
  • Northeast Middle, 24%
  • Northeast High, 24%
  • New Providence Middle, 24%
  • West Creek Elementary, 23%
  • Barkers Mill Elementary, 22%
  • Liberty Elementary, 22%
  • West Creek High, 22%
  • St. Bethlehem Elementary, 21%
  • West Creek Middle, 21%
  • Hazelwood Elementary, 19%
  • Burt Elementary, 19%
  • Norman Smith Elementary, 18%
  • Moore Magnet Elementary, 17%
  • Minglewood Elementary, 16%
  • Kenwood High, 16%
  • Byrns Darden Elementary, 15%
  • Ringgold Elementary, 15%
  • Kenwood Elementary, 14%
  • Kenwood Middle, 14%

Keely Quinlan contributed to this report.