Columbia Public Schools will reevaluate their previously agreed upon mask mandate the last week of September. 
This decision comes after the Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against Columbia Public Schools, arguing that public schools don’t have the statutory authority to issue and enforce a mask mandate to their students.
 
The lawsuit was based on the idea that science is showing masks are harming school children with “headaches, difficulty concentrating, impaired learning, drowsiness/fatigue, a reluctance to go to school and less happiness.” It continues to state that all research leads to the idea that people under 18 are at a significantly lower risk of contracting a serious illness from COVID-19, and the virus generally is not spread through this age, even in school settings. 

With the newest delta variant, recent data is finding it to be more contagious and impacting more people under 18 then the first alpha variant. The most vulnerable groups are the unvaccinated and as children 12 and under are not qualified for the vaccine, we find that group newly and dangerously at risk. The CDC states that the chance of these children getting severely unwell and hospitalized for Covid-19 is unlikely, however the symptoms are proving to last for months after the initial impact. 

Data from the City of Columbia states that children under 18 are approximately 2% of the current positive age group, out of the about 24,000 people in Boone County who have tested positive for Covid-19. Family Practitioner at Advent Health, Laura Gaffney MD, explained that she’s seen far less child Covid cases than adults and doesn’t know how masks will negatively affect those in school.

“Most viruses are really susceptible to kids in school,” Gaffney said. “Covid-19 is a little bit different, my recommendation is that everyone should wear a mask around others because you don’t know their history — we just have to continue being safe rather than sorry. Nobody likes masks and I’m not sure how much real research there is about them being detrimental to learning.”

Boone County lifted all mask mandates as of May 3, 2021 and no longer requires restaurants, shops, businesses, etc. to social distance or limit customers. Like Gaffney, in light of the Delta variant, national and local health guidelines highly recommend masks inside of schools and classrooms, especially with younger kids unable to be vaccinated. suggests mask wearing, social distancing and is promoting vaccinations. However, board members and the attorney general believe it is not their authority anymore to issue a mandate on this. 

Columbia Public Schools sided with the CDC and these health organizations to make their decision, which has brought a wide variety of both satisfied and angry parents. John Potter, a father in the CPS district, has three kids, two of which are in elementary school and the other in middle school. 

Potter actively fights against the mask mandate in his children’s classrooms and has gone as far as pulling his children out of the classroom to focus on their mental health and development until the mandate is lifted. 
“Masks are an unneeded fear and responsibility being put on the kids,” Potter said, “It is not a healthy environment and communication cannot be the same with masks on.”

Columbia officials and parents have become increasingly worried about the effect masks could have on the learning and health of children, and the board will meet to discuss their thoughts once again before revising their decision.

COLUMBIA, Mo.