Parents speak out on masks in school as MDH discusses new mandate with Legislature

We are now two weeks away from some of the largest school districts in the state of Minnesota returning to in-person learning. Some parents are concerned about masks in schools, especially with so many students not yet eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Parents have different perspectives. Some say they don’t want their kids wearing masks because they want to give them the opportunity to be in-person, face-to-face, with their classmates in a "normal" way without having to shell out big bucks to send them to a private school. Other parents who have family members with health challenges have concerns.

The Minnesota Department of Health said Tuesday there are ongoing conversations with the state Legislature about whether to reimpose a requirement at the state level.

The MDH’s current recommendation involves schools installing universal masking policies based on CDC recommendations.

"We are hopeful that the age eligibility for vaccines will continue to decline in the coming months," MDH Commissioner Jan Malcom said.

Until then, it’s a topic with mixed perspectives, and with school starting soon, parents are voicing their views.

"I know people want that personal choice, but their choices truly affect so many other people," Michele Olson said.

Olson’s daughter Evelyn has special needs and has only 30% lung capacity because she has moderate pulmonary hypertension, a chronic lung condition.

"I do understand the choice of wanting to have the vaccine or not, but if not, especially for the kids who cannot have that vaccine, the next best option would be for masking," Olson added.

Evelyn is a student at the Mounds View School District. They will require masks, but Olson fears that could change.

Mara Corey, who has health challenges of her own, says she is worried that unmasked students from unvaccinated families could put them at risk.

"We don’t know what other long-term effects are going to be," Corey said.

Corey’s son, Xander, attends in the Hopkins Public Schools District. The district is requiring students to wear masks indoors, but she has concerns over lunchtime interaction. Xander has autism but still plans on wearing a mask, even outdoors.

"He’s very concerned about passing [COVID-19] on to me," Corey said.

And other parents don’t want a mask mandate in schools, saying requirements take away their freedom of choice.

"It is not your job to parent my kid. It’s my job to parent my kids," a parent against mask mandates said on Monday night at the Anoka-Hennepin School Board meeting.

In Tuesday’s update from the MDH, Malcom said this is a fluid situation and they’re keeping a close eye on the trends.