LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — Pulling into Catawba Springs Elementary School, Whittney Hafele sits in her car along with a line of parents to pick up her first grader Ellie. 

What You Need To Know

Lincoln County Schools started the school year with a mask mandate

During their September school board meeting the members voted 4-3 to reverse the mandate and make masks optional for staff and students

The new policy goes into effect September 29

A Lincoln County mom, Whittney Hafele, spoke during the meeting asking to keep masks mandatory

Hafele says she was excited for her daughter to experience school in-person this year after she spent most of her kindergarten year at home in virtual learning. 

Along with almost all school districts in the state, Lincoln County started the school year with a mandatory mask policy. 

A new law from the state level requires school districts this year to vote every 30 days on the mask policy, whether to keep it or go optional.

Hafele says her 6-year-old has had no trouble with the mask and thought at least the mask would help keep them in school for as long as possible. 

Tuesday when school board members were set to vote on the mask policy, Hafele signed up to speak.

"All I was really asking the school board to do was protect her until she’s able to get the vaccine, because yeah, it's not a choice for everyone, but those who get it, can feel better more secure, but our elementary school kids don’t have that option," Hafele said. 

Hafele spoke to the board about Union County. 

"I went over numbers of places like Union County, that don’t have a mask mandate, how many kids they have out sick," Hafele said. 

A few more parents spoke to the board, asking to keep the mandate. 

One parent asked the board to reverse the mandate. 

The board also had the North Carolina State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson speak through Zoom regarding health facts, COVID-19, masks and quarantine. 

Tilson's recommendation was to keep the mask mandate in place until vaccination numbers go up or COVID-19 metrics lowered. 

The board voted 4-3 to reverse the mask mandate for staff and students effective September 29.

Hafele said she felt sick following the vote. 

"I was in tears, I was scared, worried, worried about the health of my child," Hafele said. 

The family moved from Charlotte to Lincoln County for the schools. 

Hafele commuted more than two hours to work each day, but said the sacrifice was important so that her daughter could attend school in Lincoln County. 

But now she's rethinking the family decision. 

"And now with these decisions, it's like, 'Did we make the right choice?' CMS schools, they just voted not only to extend the mask mandate but do screenings with the teachers," Hafele said. 

Hafele hopes the decision will again be reversed before September 29. She is meeting with school board members and reaching out to state leaders. 

Lincoln County does not have a virtual option this year for students.