Despite a looming decision from the state regarding a universal mask mandate in all public schools, Carroll County is standing firm on its move to give the parents the option for their kids.The issue is dividing the county.|| COVID-19 updates | Maryland's latest numbers | Get tested | Vaccine Info ||On the first day of school in Carroll County Wednesday, students headed into the classrooms with the choice to wear masks.It comes after the school board voted last week, making the masking mandate optional for parents.But just hours after classes let out, parents and students gathered outside of school headquarters in Westminster, ahead of a public board meeting."I did not send my kids today. They won't be going in until masks are mandatory," Carroll County Niki Guinan said.The divide in the county was evident by the color of a person's shirt -- green for pro-masking while those in white were against the measure."If they want to mask their children, we live in a free country still, and hopefully that will continue and they can make that decision to do that if they want," Carroll County parent Lisa Malveaux said.While the board's optional mask mandate stands a decision from the state could see it changed after the state board of education voted in favor of universal masking for all public schools -- a measure not yet in place.Carroll County is one of two Maryland school systems refusing to follow it at least for now."We're letting that be up to the parents to whether they want to mask up or not and that's where it should be," Carroll County Board of Education President Marsha Herbert said.School board members are now planning to take their case to a legislative committee set to review the mandate -- a committee Carroll County Del. Haven Shoemaker sits on."I asked for the hearing because typically, we're supposed to take a hands-off attitude at the state board level regarding local decision-making processes," Shoemaker said.And the General Assembly is expected to vote on that universal mask mandate next Tuesday.