A large group of students and parents, some carrying signs and none wearing masks, gathered outside Mitchell High School Wednesday morning protesting the district’s mandatory face mask policy.
Student Jayden Herren says it’s a matter of choice. “They shouldn’t be able to force masks on people,” said Herren. “It should be your choice…if you don’t feel safe going into a school with his many people, you should be able to stay home and do the e-learning alternative.”
Parent Crystal Wendelboe has five children in the Mitchell School district. “I feel it’s my kid’s right to choose whether or not they get to mask,” said Wendelboe. “They are against masks.”
Superintendent Joe Graves says students who choose not to attend classes wearing masks are considered absent and may face academic consequences.
The Mitchell School Board passed the mask mandate by a unanimous vote Monday and plans to review it during its November 8th meeting.
Mask Protest story: