Harding Academy Mask Policy

Dear Harding Academy Learning Community,

I am sure by now many of you have heard about Executive Order 84 signed by Governor Lee yesterday. We have confirmed through multiple sources that this order does not apply to independent schools in Davidson County. 

We will continue to require masks indoors as I stated in my Chapter Three: Health and Safety email from August 6, 2021. We will review this position on or around Labor Day. We will consider our Harding Academy data, the independent school community data, input from our medical advisors, as well as guidance from the CDC, TN Department of Health, and Nashville Metro Health Department. The foundation for any future mask-optional policy will rely on factors such as, “high vaccination rates, strong community commitment to testing when individuals feel ill with COVID like symptoms and low COVID-19 incidence.” (Childrens’ Hospital of Philadelphia Policy Lab, Guidance for In-person Education in K-12 Educational Settings, July 2021). 

We appreciate everyone respectfully abiding by this policy when we come on campus for tomorrow’s orientations and the start of school.

Sincerely,