MUSD board to send letter seeking 'options' to mask mandate

Members of the Menifee Union School District board addressed the mask mandate issue on Tuesday.

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Menifee Union School District board members agreed unanimously Tuesday to send a letter to the governor asking to make the mask mandate optional for students.

While stating during a board meeting that the school board “does not have the ability to change the law,” board president Jackie Johansen said “we can work on advocacy." She asked her colleagues to join her in signing a letter adding a ‘personal belief exemption’ to the mandate. She also expressed hope that the state’s planned re-evaluation of the mandate Feb. 28 would bring about change as early as next week.

Johansen’s comments came moments after six parents addressed the board, all in opposition to the mask mandate. One mother said her third grade son was forced to sit outside the classroom in the wind and rain because he refused to wear his mask.

Another resident, Timothy Kay, said that school districts’ statements that the issue is out of their control “is a lie.”

“It’s not a law, it’s guidance,” he said about the COVID-19 mandate. “Many parents have filed a claim against the policy.”

Another parent named several school districts in California that have removed the mask mandate. She asked board members to pass a resolution stating that students not be segregated for choosing to be unmasked.

Kyle Root joined the other board members in authorizing Johansen’s proposed letter to the governor.

“I’ll echo those comments,” he said. “Add my name to that letter. I believe there should be a choice, and it’s obvious there’s an inability to police the issue. I hope on Feb. 28 some changes are made. We’re put in a tough situation legally. I know what we want to do, to give students a choice, but it comes down to a matter of litigation.”

Board member Xavier Padilla said, “I’m a huge proponent of masks, but it’s about time we gave them a choice. The way they have done this does not make sense.”

Superintendent Jennifer Root’s regular report followed the board members’ comments, but she made no mention of the mask issue. An announcement from the state on Monday is expected to be the next development.