A Temporary Restraining Order by Judge Grischow put the decision of whether or not to require masking into the hands of the school districts. The ruling was made due to the weakness of the legislation and not the development of the situation.

Despite the change in authority, the COVID situation has not changed to a degree that warrants change in the district’s response.

A few have been vocal about their desire for a change: for masks to be made optional. These people have gotten loud enough that the school district has little choice but to hear them out.

If the protesters are successful in their appeal, it would mean that masking would be made optional in the district. However, requiring masking has been proven to correlate with higher rates of masking and fewer COVID cases. Though COVID is known to be less severe in children​, transmissibility among them is still high. 

Giving in now, before we can reasonably say that the issue is contained, is incredibly rash and frankly irresponsible, and could easily worsen the problem down the line. Masks were mandated for a reason, and I trust that the people who have stepped up to lead our state and our country in public health are more qualified to make these decisions than us.