JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Three Jefferson County schools reached an agreement with the county public health department concerning the COVID order that requires all students age 2 and up to wear a mask.
Jefferson County Public Health took three private schools to court on Wednesday to ensure compliance with the health order.
Late Wednesday afternoon, Augustine was dismissed from the suit after coming to an agreement with the health department on compliance visits. Beth Eden Baptist was cleared as well. Jeffco Public Health said in a statement:
JCPH is pleased that we have been able to resolve our legal action with two of the three involved schools in our county – Beth Eden Baptist Church and Augustine Classical Academy. Both schools have agreed to allow our public health inspectors to have full access to conduct compliance inspections, as requested by JCPH in the lawsuit. Litigation is still in progress with Faith Christian Academy. This is an important step toward protecting the schoolchildren of Jefferson County, and JCPH will continue to take all necessary measures to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in our community.
Jefferson County Public Health
JCPH resumed court proceedings against Faith Christian Academy on Thursday and was granted a preliminary injunction.
Today the Court granted a preliminary injunction requiring the last of the three schools in this case to require masking indoors and permit unscheduled inspections. JCPH is very pleased the judge recognized the need for mask-wearing in schools to protect young children who are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19 due to their inability to get vaccinated, which ultimately protects in-person learning. Our priority is to mitigate COVID-19 in the community, and mask-wearing is the best way to protect young children from COVID-19 so they do not get the virus themselves or spread it to others.