The Cumberland County Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday night to make masks optional for both students and staff.

The school board approved the decision with a 5 to 4 vote. The decision will go into effect on Feb. 16.

"Going mask optional doesn't take away the right of someone who wears a mask, they can double mask, the N-95s are abundant now when they haven't been before," Chair Greg West said. "I think mask optional is a prudent first step to allow those who want a choice and waited for 22 months to have a choice."

Board Member Donna Vann said that after two-and-a-half years in a pandemic, everyone has their own personal responsibility to protect themselves.

"That's going to be the choice of each individual," Vann said.

However, other board members reiterated that masking is a group responsibility.

"The mask is a public health tool. It's for you caring about me or me caring about you, to protect you," Board Member Carrie Sutton said in opposition.

Board Members Sutton, Deanna Jones, Judy Musgrave and Charles McKellar all voted against making the masks optional.

However, the Cumberland County mask mandate is still in place by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. Masks are required indoors across Cumberland County, including all municipalities - Fayetteville, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Wade, Eastover, Falcon, Godwin, Linden and Stedman. It is unclear how the new school board policy will be impacted by the county policy.